Complete Private ✪ Finweald The Calm Before...

[Siondhe]

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She glanced down at herself, noting the dents in the armour and the overall appearance of her original piece. A sigh escaped her lips as she realised that she would need to at least get it fixed, if not entirely replaced. She'd grown accustomed to the purple and red plated piece, and the idea of replacing it caused her to cringe slightly, even though she knew that at some point she'd have to do just that.

"Sometimes you just have to do, what you have to do...no matter how much it hurts."

Pulling out her pen and parchment, Kyra began writing a note to the one person who had mentioned shopping during their time in Terrasphere, hoping that they would be able to be of at least some assistance.

Mail

Hey Luthy,
So, I've come to the realisation that after everything that it has been through, I should probably get about to replacing the far-out-dated armour piece that I've been wearing since...well, day one, really.

I was kind of hoping that you'd be interested in coming along for a bit of a shopping trip, if you're up for it? I know things have been a bit...well, crazy, lately, but I don't really know anyone else who would be an expert in these things, and well...anyways, want to go shopping?

Hoping to hear from you soon;
Kyra Vashtana

A few seconds after she had finished signing her name and the corresponding scythe-symbol that had become her emblem, unofficially, the parchment had disappeared from sight. Sent off to the mentioned individual, through means that Kyra still hadn't come to understand - although she'd never argue. She'd enjoyed the realism of it, the feel of pen on paper to send the letter.

"Much better than trying to type one handed like some sort of phone addicted child..."

She put away the writing implementations, deciding to fumble around with her stuff a bit more while she waited on a response from Luthien. There were still some final pieces that needed packed, in preparation, and she turned her attention to them.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

She had logged into the small rented room that Lúthien had begun to consider home within the game, the elf currently preparing herself to go out when a sudden blink on her HUD caught her attention. A finger moved to tap the mail icon softly on her screen, before crimson eyes glossed over the contents as a smile slowly formed on her lips.

Voice Mail

"Sure, that sounds like a fantastic idea Kyra!

Had to go and pick up my ranger clothes from Myriil anyways, so we can check out her shop. Maybe something there catches your eye? I’d not there’s always other stores nearby we can look through.

Meet you at the Finest Flour then? We can have a light brunch and go from there~"

She finished dressing up then, grabbing the little cap from atop her bed, before Lúthien headed out the door and into the streets of Finweald. Reaching the rendezvous point wasn’t hard for the elf, after all The Little Hunter's Inn was only two blocks away. Of course it also helped that Lúthien knew the way almost by heart now, fond as she was of the many treats the bakery offered… but also thankful that, on occasions when the day was slow, the Faerin owner of the establishment would allow Lúthien access to the kitchen for her personal use… for a price, of course.

"Hey, Sugar~" She greeted the faerin behind the counter upon entering the small shop, using Cecile Sugarbite’s preferred nickname. "Chocolate croissant today with some black tea, please and thanks."

It wasn’t long before the elf was sitting down on a table by the front of the shop, able to glance out to the street through the large window panes as she kept an eye out for the familiar purple being that was Kyra.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Kyra stared at the note for a few moments, before finally speaking aloud.

"Who the fuck is Myriil, and the Finest Flour?"

She put away the parchment piece, folding it and tucking it into a hip pouch, before rummaging around slightly. She collected a few of her more basic necessities, before heading out of the apartment, and making her way through the new city - one that was far, far different from the other capital that she had spent some time in.

---

Kyra found herself wandering, lost and confused, through the main streets of Finweald. She had managed to stop a few nearby individuals and ask for directions, but that had only helped so much. Nearly an hour after she had received the notification, and subsequently left her new place, did she managed to stumble in front of what appeared to be the location she was looking for.

In a spitting image of an animal lost in the wild, Kyra gazed around, wide-eyed as she took in her newfound location, trying to spot the blonde Elf among the few passerbys, slowly becoming more and more worried as she didn't see the girl she was looking for.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

By the time her crimson eyes spotted the familiar purple ears of the fox enough time had lapsed where Lúthien had finished her croissant, a second cup of tea having been ordered and in process of being drunk. She couldn’t help the sympathetic smile that pulled at her lips as Lúthien spotted Kyra looking around, she looked completely out of her element.

< Over to your right, second window pane. > The elf quietly sent a message to the vixen, her hand waving softly by the window in the hopes of catching the fox’s attention. < Come on in, Sugar has some of the best baked treats in the city. >

Hopefully this time around Kyra wouldn’t be too surprised by the sudden mental voice that popped into her mind… although that itself could be rather amusing, so long as no innocent bystander accidentally got involved in whatever aftermath that followed.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Her ears twitched as the message came in, and Kyra glanced over at the window before breaking into a beaming smile. She bounced the few steps to the front door, opening it carefully before sliding into the shop. A few steps further and she had her arms wrapped around Lúthien in a light embrace.

"So! We need to go do some shopping! I uh...need something to replace this. A bit too holy for me, considering I'm not like a paladin or anything."

She waved a hand down at her armour, drawing attention to the numerous dents, cracks and minor holes in the plates that made up the majority of her armour piece. A few tears in the fabric stood out, the skin and underclothing beneath making an obvious clash.

"You said you spend a lot of time around here, right? So you must know somewhere in town that sells new armour and stuff, right?"

She glanced around the shop, realising for the first time that other individuals might be listening, hearing their conversation. She gave a tug on Luthien's arm, nodding towards the door in a hopes of getting Luthien up and moving.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

The elf couldn’t help but grin in response once she caught the beaming smile in Kyra’s face, watching as the vixen quickly bounced up the steps and slunk into the store before beelining for her table. Her arms wrapped around her neck as Kyra embraced her, causing the blonde to chuckle before she returned the gesture.

"Energetic as ever, I see."

Kyra reiterated her need to shop, hands moving around her current armor to show the obvious dinks and dents of the long wear and tear the outfit had endured. Lúthien couldn’t help the whistle of surprise that left her then, a part of her was amazed that the armor had withstood as much as it had. "Yeah, I’m usually around Finweald when Beleg doesn't have me traversing The World as a free delivery service." Again the beastfolk reached for her, this time tugging on Lúthien’s arm, and the elf couldn’t help the chuckle that left her then.

"Alright, I get it. You’re in a hurry, so let’s head over to Myriil’s place then." She picked up the cup of tea, finishing the remaining contents within, before standing and allowing Kyra to drag her outside. "Come on, I’ll lead the way~"

~ ~​

"Here we are~" Before long the pair had arrived to a three story building, the blonde happily pointing at the sign that hung above the entryway with the words Madam Myriil’s Silver Threads engraved into it. "Yladian Starcalled, got UI Locked sometime before TerraSphere went offline for four years. Apparently she was a designer in the real world and, with free time to kill, eventually grew a biz here."

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Kyra was about to ask where they were going, and who the mentioned Myriil was, when Lúthien began leading her out the door. It didn't take long for them to arrive at what was likely a high class shop, causing Kyra to glance over at Lúthien.

"Uh...Luthy, this place looks...expensive. Like really, really, really...expensive..."

Her eyes glanced over the shop front, and then into the windows. The pieces on display immediately caught Kyra's eyes, and for a moment she stood outside biting her lip. Almost as quickly as her indecisiveness had started, Kyra was tugging the two of them forward into the shop.

"I mean it can't be that expensive...right?"

Inside, she found herself suddenly overwhelmed with an abundance of displays, her eyes roaming over everything as she tried to take it all in.

"Oh...oh wow...oh this is...Luthy I love this place...can we stay here forever?"

She was bouncing on the spot as she glanced between two cloaks on display, one of a gold and purple combinations, the other a gorgeous silver with green lining. Her tail swayed behind her so fast that it seemed to create a gust of wind, her ears straight up and her eyes wide with excitement.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

"Don;t worry about it, Madam Myriil just likes keeping high appearances." She could see the concern on the vixen’s face, giving Kyra a soft wink as she held the door open for the purple-haired girl to step inside. "Store actually carries quite a few ranges, all super good quality though. Otherwise trust me, I wouldn’t be able to afford shopping here either."

Sure enough the vixen seemed to be convinced, stepping through the open door that Lúthien held before the elf followed behind Kyra. A soft chuckle escaped the blonde when she saw the excited look on Kyra’s face, the ranger offering a quick breakdown of the place for her friend.

"First floor is mostly clothing, and if nothing catches your eyes you can always go to the counter over there and see about a personal request. They take longer to fulfill, but are definitely worth it." A hand pointed towards the counter in question, currently manned by a brunette faerin, before Lúthien then pointed towards the stairs leading up. "Second floor is all about accessories and weaponry, and like here you can also make special requests—it’s how I got my bow."

Crimson eyes peered at some of the ensembles currently available, though nothing quite caught her interest. "Lastly the third floor is Madam Myriil’s office, from what I’ve heard going up there is a no-no unless she’s specifically asked you." The elf turned then, beginning to make her way to the counter.

"Imma go pick up my order, but feel free to browse around Kyra~"

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Kyra had wasted no time, moving from beside Lúthien straight to the designated counter. She glanced around a bit before spotting the attendant working behind the counter itself, waving and calling out to catch the woman's attention.

"Uhm...hello! I'm wondering if I could...place an...order!"

She had begun digging through her backpack as she spoke, eventually pulling out a small purple-leather book and laying it gingerly on the counter. She flipped through a few pages, before spinning the piece so that the woman could see it better.

"I had a few ideas for...well, this...I was hoping to maybe get a creation done, or get some assistance with it. It's a rough sketch, so if you have any input I would love that too! I mean, it's basically mind to paper, no filtration or alterations, so I don't even know how much is possible or would need to be adjusted, or whatever, I just kind of went and drew it all up and...well, here it is."

She spent the next twenty minutes or so working with the woman behind the counter, before eventually finalising the order. She left the sketchbook, reluctantly, with the attendant, before browsing through the area itself. It didn't take her long before she found another piece that caught her eye. Lifting a portion of it off the display, she turned to find the attendant, before confirming that she could try it on.

---

As she stepped out of the change room, Kyra did a small spin - catching sight of Lúthien in the distance she waved and called out.

"Hey! Luthy! What do you think of this?"

She held her arms outwards in a pose that better displayed the piece, turning slowly as she did. The armour felt comfortable, well fitted - although likely needing some minor, final adjustments to sit perfectly. She couldn't help but revel in the colours, a near perfect combination for the fox-girl's tastes.

"It feels right...right?"

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

The foxgirl had immediately gone for the counter once Lúthien had finished explaining the store layout to Kyra. A faint smile crossing the blonde’s lips as she watched Kyra excitedly share whatever idea she currently had with the brunette, hashing out the details of a custom order, before she was approached by an elven girl that also worked in the shop.

"Hello, do you need any assistance today?"
"Yeah, I’m here to pick up my clothes."

The white haired girl had lead Lúthien then to another section of the counter, getting the details of the order from the girl along with remaining payment, before disappearing to locate the specific garments. Before long Lúthien had her repaired clothes back on hand, the girl disappearing them into her UI inventory for the time being, and just in time to see Kyra waving in her direction.

"Oh, those colors look really good on you Kyra!" Two thumbs up were given in response as the vixen extended her arms and slowly twirled around, the bright blue and purple shades certainly flattering against Kyra’s complexion and aesthetics. "If I didn’t know better I would’ve said that was made just for you, girl~"

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Lúthien's words were enough to convince Kyra, and turning back to the woman who had been helping her since their arrival in the shop.

"Consider this one sold."

The woman seemed to beam a smile, before pulling out a couple of measurement tools and doing a once-over on Kyra, marking the required adjustments. A few moments later, Kyra found herself back in her normal clothing, while they waited for the tailoring to be completed.

"Oh man this is gonna be an expensive day, I can just feel it...I guess quality costs though, right?"

She beamed a smile over at Lúthien before her face turned serious again. There was more than just shopping that she had wanted to do, and she wasn't sure how to start the conversation.

"So...how have you been? Since the whole...thing? Have you spoken to anyone since then? Anyone specific?"

She glanced over at Lúthien, her eyes, and the flick of her tail revealing the discomfort she felt at the whole situation. She wasn't even sure how she was going to bring it all up, much less what she was supposed to say.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

It seemed like her encouraging words were the last thing needed to seal the deal, the purple-haired beastfolk turning back to the faeron assisting them since their arrival to confirm the intent to purchase. She beamed in response, taking the measurements from Kyra, before the garments in question were taken to a private area so they could work on the final fitting enhancements to be completed.

"Mmm, a bit I guess—but it’s totally worth it in the long run. After all, we wouldn’t want to cop a death out there just because our equipment was meh at best, right?"

They had sat down in a little waiting area while the tailoring was completed, the elf returning the smile Kyra shot her way before noticing the serious complexion that soon overtook the vixen’s features. "Everything alright…?" A concerned look crossed her elven face, Lúthien’s head tilting slightly to the side as she peered back at the fox.

"A-Ah, I’ve been fine…" A faint part of the ranger had a suspicion she knew where this conversation was headed, even if the blonde wasn’t fully sure yet, and the elf averted her gaze away as a finger scratched her cheek softly. "N-Not really, just the usual people as always…"

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Kyra eyed the blonde Elf in silence for a few moments, letting the other sweat as she stared at her. After she'd waited what had felt like long enough to her, she continued her questioning - her voice filled with an almost cautious, abrupt tone to it.

"You and I both know who I'm talking about. Ar-Yugam. Have you spoken with Yugam lately? Had any sort of...interactions with him, or perhaps some sort of conversation? Perhaps a resolution of sorts?"

She tried to keep her expression aloof, as if she was simply asking for an update on something that was considered in passing, but the swaying of her tail - hard and fast - would've signified the urgency and emotions she was feeling.

"Has he...reached out to talk to you at all? Maybe mentioned anything about a certain someone who may or may not have had a conversation with him about...well, nothing in particular? I mean, men, right?"

She threw in a hand toss and a half-hearted smile as if to make the entire thing feel light-hearted and unimportant, but her harsh gaze was focused on Lúthien’s face, holding her attention there as she waited for a response.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

There was something about the vixen’s eyes that always made Lúthien feel nervous, it was like Kyra could see right into the very depths of her soul… and the efl wasn’t sure how comfortable she was with that thought. As much of an open book as Lúthien often seemed to be, she also had a few secrets kept close to her heart—much like any other living and breathing being in the world.

"Y-Yeah… thought as much." The purple-haired girl finally confirmed who she was referring to, a sigh escaping evelen lips before Lúthien shrugged softly. "No, not really? I’ve been a bit busy with my… work, so our schedules haven’t aligned up that much lately."

At first she thought the fox was just checking in to see if the blonde had followed up with her promise to try and see if things could develop more between Yugam and her. However, as Kyra continued to speak, the elf couldn’t help the way her eyebrows furrowed in response. "No… no, he hasn’t." It was her turn to look at the vixen with a fixed stare, meeting Kyra’s own as the ranger began to study the faint lines and cues that showed on the girl’s face and body language.

"Kyra, what’s going on…? What did you do?"

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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She didn't flinch as the reaction she was expecting came, the questioning of what Kyra herself had possibly done to bring about inquiries. She shrugged, before stating the obvious aloud.

"I confronted him, shortly after Camp Hope. Tried to get some insight from him. Figure out what his priorities were, and...well, questioned him. Maybe a little too aggressively...but anyways, I spoke with him to try and figure out what he was doing, and if he actually cared."

She gave another shrug, trying to figure out how to say the next part in a way that didn't come across as entirely heartless. Although she figured that would require a miracle of some sort, because it was definitely going to leave her lips with some venom.

"He seemed...to be better off without you. And no, it's not just that he said that. I got the feeling that he really didn't care. As if he thought it was something that was there to begin with, but it was better off to just give up on, to toss aside and move on. Sure, he gave all the excuses, but those were all hollow. In the end, I just think...that he's not interested in putting the effort in. Whether that comes from fear, or apathy...well, I'm good, but I'm not perfect."

She cringed as she said the piece, not enjoying it in the least. Like ripping off a bandage...just get it done with, and then move on to the next part - healing. She quickly continued, trying to add a joyous tone into her words.

"But I mean if he's not going to put the effort in, then why should you? I say we go out, get some food, some drinks...or well, drinks for you...and maybe some fun and forget about this whole thing. The man's an ass, anyways."

She gave a hard flick of her tail, to emphasise her words. The grin on her face, however, felt forced - and likely looked as much, to anyone watching.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

"I’m sorry," The look on her elven face showed this phrase wasn’t an apology, but simple a filler as her mind tried to wrap around the meaning of the words that Kyra was currently blurting out between them. "You did what...?!"

It took every ounce of the ranger’s will to keep the pitch of her voice from rising higher than would’ve been accepted on a public setting, considering this conversation was suddenly taking place in the little waiting area of the store as Kyra’s newly purchased items were adjusted. The fox then went on to verbalize whatever conversation she had shared with the hunters, bits and pieces of hit sticking out in Lúthien’s mind.

”He seemed...to be better off without you… I got the feeling that he really didn't care… In the end, I just think...that he's not interested in putting the effort in… if he's not going to put the effort in, then why should you? … maybe have some fun and forget about this whole thing. The man's an ass, anyways.”

The smile on her face, once genuine and earnest, had soon shifted into a forced and polite one that Lúthien barely managed to keep on her lips, the elf able to feel the faint twitch on her right eyelid now and again as the monologue had continued. Her hands, which had been gingerly resting atop her lap at the time, had balled into two tight fists by the time Kyra was done saying her piece.

"Kyra… did I ever asked you to get involved?" Though the smile was still on her lips, forced to remain, any previous warmth was gone from Lúthien’s voice when she spoke. "’cause I don’t remember asking you to meddle in our affairs."

Crimson eyes looked straight into the vixen’s own gaze, hard and cold as newly cut gems, as the words tumbled out of her lips before the elf had a moment to properly consider them. She could feel an ache in her chest, a tightness and pressure that hadn’t been there before—the concerns, doubts and feelings that Lúthien had been working so hard to balance and keep under control suddenly allowed to run freely and unrestricted.

"I think I’ve had enough fun already for today…"

She was lashing out, a faint part in the back of her mind understood as much, and a single thought crossed her mind then: perhaps it was best if Lúthien removed herself from the situation before she uttered words that she wouldn't be able to take back later.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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She'd expected as much, the anger and the frustration - and the venom that was hidden behind the words. All of it, she'd expected in response. What she hadn't expected, was the lack of shouting. Sure, they were in a public place, sure it would've brought a lot of attention their way - but it was what usually happened, didn't it?

She was about to respond when the clerk came over to notify them that Kyra's piece was done. She gave a quick nod to the woman, before turning back to look at Lúthien. There was no apologetic look on her, no hint of dismay or regret - instead, there was a stoic appearance, a lack of emotion.

"No, you didn't ask me to - I did it myself, without consulting you in any way whatsoever. I did it out of anger and frustration, and out of the fact that I wanted to avoid you going through any more pain than you deserve to, from him. I did it, because - and I know this from experience - you seemed ready to simply run away, to not try and talk to him. And maybe I was wrong, but I can tell you one thing, if he cared you would've already known what I had done. He would've told you."

She stood up suddenly, her tail drooping behind her as she turned to face Lúthien entirely.

"Considering this occurred days ago...I would've expected you to be aware of the situation if you were talking, and if you two were on a level playing field. The fact he didn't tell you, says a lot."

She turned and took a few steps before the stoic mask broke, and she felt her ears drop onto the top of her head. She turned slowly back towards Lúthien, her eyes downcast.

"I wasn't trying to make things worse...I'm sorry..."

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

A clerk had approached them just when Kyra looked ready to speak, and the elf instantly changed her tune as a result. A perfectly nice and polite smile rested on her lips, though it never seemed to reach her eyes, as Lúthien nodded in acknowledgement of the staff member before they notified the modifications to Kyra’s latest purchase had been completed. After all, it wasn't the clerk’s fault that the blonde was currently having an awful time™ so Lúthien was willing to put in extra effort to ensure they didn’t get the wrong idea.

The smile was gone as soon as the clerk walked away, her lips pressed together in a thin line as the ranger stood up from her seat. Only her eyes betrayed the otherwise impassive look on her features, a hardened glare staring down the smaller fox girl as Kyra spoke.

"Exactly Kyra, you decided by yourself that you already knew what actions I was going to do regarding a personal matter that—in no way, shape, or form—affects you." Her arms crossed over her chest just as the beastfolk stood up as well. "And no, Kyra, he doesn't have to tell me about every single conversation he speaks with others."

She watched as the vixen turned and took a few steps before pausing, her fuzzy ears dropping suddenly as Kyra was the first to break the stoic mask on her face. She turned back to face the blonde once more, her eyes downcast as an apology tumbled from the smaller woman’s lips.

"I wasn't trying to make things worse...I'm sorry..."

"I get that, Kyra… but even the road to hell can be paved with good intentions." Lúthien took a moment as she closed her eyes, the elf taking a deep breath before exhaling softly. "I’m gonna head back now… don’t really feel like playing anymore for the day."

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

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Her words escaped her, not for the first time. Instead, she stared at the floor, trying to figure out what she could do to fix things. Her mind raced, and yet no answers arrived. She'd messed up, there was no denying that, and as the reality came crashing down on her, she felt her will to say anything disappear.

Instead, she turned and made her way towards the counter, picking up her order with a brief comment of gratitude, before making her way towards the front of the shop, new armour in hand. She kept her eyes on the ground in front of her, not glancing around as she shoved through the doorway, making her way into the street beyond.

She hesitated, once she was outside, torn. She wanted to say something, anything, to try and fix what she'd done. But she knew, knew deep within her mind, that there was nothing she could say, nothing she could do that would make it any better. Her shoulders slumped again as she took another step forward, wordlessly leaving the shop behind.

@Luthien​

 

[Luthien]

A part of the ranger was surprised that the purple fix had apparently nothing else to add for the conversation, remaining silent for once, before watching as Kyra made her way over to the counter to settle her order. By then the blonde had began moving towards the exit of the store, though she kept up the appearances of someone waiting for their friend to complete their shopping.

Once Kyra made her way over THe archer would step outside, holding the door open long enough so that it wouldn’t smack into the vixen walking behind her, before the pair stood outside of the boutique for a few awkward moments. Her eyes were able to pick up on the beastfolk’s body language that showed she was mulling over the situation in her mind, a hand raised to brush her hair back as Lúthien also considered it all for a moment. In the end though the blonde felt satisfied enough that she’d said her piece, her feelings unchanged given the new revelations from Kyra.

The smaller girl wordlessly began to walk away from the shop in her chosen direction and, after a few seconds of watching Kyra’s back, the blonde turned on her heels before making her way back to the inn that held her rented room.

@Kyra Vashtana