2017-04-21: The Princess and the Merchant Go to Market

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  • Log: The Princess and the Merchant Go to Market
  • Cast: Alisha Diphda, Rose
  • Where: Adlehyde's Markets
  • Date: April 21, 2017
  • Summary: Alisha is checking out ARMs in Adlehyde's market. Rose finds her, to distract her, and the two have a chance to catch up.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha has been in Adlehyde for over a month and she still marvels at the markets. They are sometimes borderline nonsensical to her -- she can hardly wrap her head about Filgaian fashion, for instance -- but some things are wondrous because they make no sense. Some things, like much of the food, are a comfort that remind her of home. And some things, well, they pique Alisha's interest in other ways.

TWELVE YEARS AGO:

"Alisha," Lady Maltran said, with a most serious look on her face. "This is a spear. This weapon is an extension of you -- not only your arm, when you hold it, but of your intentions."

"Yes, master," the five year old Alisha said. "I understand."

ELEVEN YEARS AGO:

"You're sure about this?" a soldier asked the King of Hyland, looking sideways. "She is young..."

The princess stood, six year-old legs in a practiced stance, and held the short sword like she had for years. Her father watched, her mother a little behind him and cough, and then he sighed. He nodded.

"She is a natural with weapons," he said. "What could it hurt?"

NINE YEARS AGO:

"But, princess--"

Alisha fixed the master-at-arms with a look as she held up the long knife, nimbly, between her eight year-old fingers. "Yes?"

"This... isn't a weapon for a princess! It is for skullduggery!"

THREE YEARS AGO:

When Alisha cleaved the wooden log in twain with one swing of a mighty battle axe, no one was even very surprised.

NOW:

"This is fascinating!" Alisha declares to the out-of-town ARMsmith. She has a rifle on her shoulder, the sight of the gun pointed down the street. She squints with one green eye, as she draws her bead with her rifle -- though there isn't a round in the ARM chamber. "I would like to try firing it."

"That, ah--" The merchant looks nervous.

"Wouldn't be wise," Alisha finishes for him, with a sigh. "But it is fun--" She frowns. "--o-oh, I hope no one heard that."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

For a couple of days now, the Sparrowfeathers have been hanging around the Fairgrounds, having set up a tent and a table to sell various wares. As of yesterday they even had a very special assigment and order from the Shepherd himself to fulfill!

Eguille, Rose and the Ayn twins can be seen hauling small crates and bags seemingly filled with food in the background, in transit between the Fairgrounds and the Starfall Saloon. This is going great until Rose, from the corner of her eyes, spots the familiar haircut of the princess of Hyland, and immediatly panics. Not because of any activities that may or may not be related to assassins, but because of Sorey's request!

"Oh crap! Bad timing, bad timing. Eguille! Take this!"

She dumps her crate onto his'. He almost falls backward from the extra weight before restoring his balancing and glaring, while the twins hold in a giggle. "Quick, go, go! I've got her!"

The three merchants not-so-subtly scoot off towards the saloon, while Rose dashes to Alisha's side and immediatly sets it upon herself to violate her personal space even worse than she did Sorey's. She takes her current assignment very seriously.

That is to say, Rose puts her hands over Alisha's eyes from behind. "Guess who!" This plan is perfect. Alisha surely won't have any attention to spare for the other Sparrowfeathers in the background like this.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha, mercifully, is distracted by the strange and unusual ARM in her hands. (All ARMs are strange and unusual to her.) As a result, she isn't looking at the Sparrowfeathers as they hurry towards the saloon -- at first because she admires the gun in her hands. But, then she starts to turn the rifle to find things to take aim at, drawing a soft whine from the merchant that she is talking to.

And then hands are over her eyes.

"Yeek!" she yelps, and she drops the ARM. It falls to the ground with a clatter, before coming to rest there. Alisha sputters, her world entirely dark for a moment, but she doesn't throw Rose's hands off her. "I-I am not sure--" She does pull free, though, and turn to face her.

She blinks -- it takes a moment to piece together who she is, in the strange environs, until she remembers. The leader of the Sparrowfeathers, that nice red-haired girl who tried to make her a deal. Alisha blinks again, and then brightens.

"Oh! Miss Rose, wasn't it?" she asks. "Why, hello! I--I never would have thought that you would have made your way here, too!"

They are a long way from home.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"You don't remember my lovely voice? I'm hurt! Here I try to make sure the Sparrowfeathers leave a good impact on people!" She feigns being rejected, hand on her chest and overly dramatic motions and all. This doesn't last, she's back to the happy smile and tone in less than a minute.

"Mhm! We got transported here a few weeks ago. Having a caravan full of goods from Glenwood made it pretty easy to fit in, collectors will literally fight over rare resources from Lunar you know? We repaired the caravans, established some trade routes, you know, merchant stuff. No use letting this situation slow us down!" She even twirls on her feet once to demonstrate energy.

"I ran into mister Shepherd yesterday! Apparently he's got you all wrapped up in his quest, huh? Must be tiring traveling with that guy, especially if he's making you stop to examine every cave you come across for ruins!" It's a positive topic, to keep Alisha's mind off other things. Ribbing on Sorey is considered fun, right?

Her eyes finally trail down to examine what Alisha dropped. "A firearm? Or should I say a fire... ARM?" Eh? Eeeeeh? She looks proud of herself. She probably shouldn't be.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Sorry," Alisha says, with a sheepish smile. "I would have recognized you, but I don't hear the voice of someone I knew from back home very often here..." She sounds apologetic, but the princess is -- as a rule -- sincere to a fault.

Her eyes widen, though, at the description. A caravan of goods from Lunar? It sounds too good to be true. She puts a hand over her mouth after it opens, and then she nods quickly. "Oh, I see! I haven't had a chance to buy anything from home--oh, um--" The Shepherd ran into her.

She tilts her head, before she smiles and nods. "It is a lot of work," she says, "but I don't mind. I loved archaeology since I was a little girl. Of course, it is different, being on another world."

Ribbing on Sorey is a little fun. But, then her eyes drift down to the ARM -- and she blinks, before she snorts and starts giggling. "Rose!" she exclaims. "That... that was a good one. Yes, though. Have you had a chance to handle one?" she asks. She leans down, then picks the rifle up. "They are fascinating. The range and precision is impressive, but they work differently than bows. I would love to go hunting with one, sometime!"

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"A little bit! Not in a serious context or anything like that, I've just played some of the games they set up around the Fairgrounds. Just with normal low-power rifles though, nothing as fancy as an ARM." Though she wonders if there would be any draw to carnival games that use dangerous ARMs to play. People seem to like dangerous things around here. Something to consider, but getting her hands on a good ARM is a more complicated deal than coming up with the idea.

"It's unusual I guess! Between you and me I'd rather stick to the comfort of my caravan than get in real fights. It pays to be able to fend bandits and monsters off, but it pays even better to avoid them outright!"

Still, hunting has its benefits. She ponders. "Weeeeell, I could try pulling some strings to rent us a couple of rifles to go hunting if you'd like. I get along pretty well with all the folks here! We'll just have to shell out for some rounds and gunpowder, that's a lot less expensive than buying rifles." It might be she just wants to poach whatever they kill to make a quick coin or two. Or it might be she still feels guilty about the whole assassination attempt thing and wants to make it up to Alisha a little bit. Could be both of those things at once too.

"So how about that? We can drag Sorey along too, I get a feeling we're going to get a good laugh out of seeing him try to operate a rifle!" For all she knows he never has!

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Oh, I have seen those!" Alisha says, though she hasn't used one much. "I haven't tried many of the fair games yet. I wasn't sure where to begin, yet."

She taps a finger against her chin, before she nods -- and then she tilts her head to the side at what Rose says. The way her eyes widen and she looks eager for a moment, before she nods. "Oh! Yes, that sounds like it would be very fun. Could you? I suppose--well, you've had a few weeks. It's let you make contacts here, haven't you?"

She laughs, then, and then she crosses her arms while she considers. One might think Sorey too gentle to harm something -- but she saw him fight those prickleboars.

"That would be wonderful!" she says. "It doesn't bother you, to go hunting with the Shepherd? I know some people..." She shakes her head. "...Well, they see him as the Shepherd more than they see Sorey."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"Yep! Like I told him, lucky for us it seems the need for merchants is a constant across worlds! We had to learn a whole new map, but the job's pretty much the same." She edges in closer, to whisper. "Plus with all the money we made selling the wares we had on us when we arrived it wasn't hard to get all the paperwork in order. We could've probably retired instead! Using it to get our feet back on the ground was just the smarter decision though."

Something about being able to talk to a princess about wealth just tickled Rose's fancy. You don't get to do it often, so revel in it when you can!

Then Alisha asks an odd question. Rose brings a finger to her chin, tapping it thoughtfully. "Hmmmm... I guess I don't really look at it like that. He might be the Shepherd but he's also allowed to have time to himself and hobbies, right? Sorey's Sorey! I see him as a dork before I see him as the Shepherd, eheh~." That's the nicest word she could find, too. "As long as he's not doing anything to dishonor the title does it really matter? Besides, anything the Shepherd does gets us more fame! We, Sparrowfeathers, are proud to be the Shepherd's sponsor!" Sorey never actually said no!

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha pauses when Rose leans in close to confide in her, and then her eyebrows lift and she smiles. "Oh, I see! It sounds like a smart decision. I never knew much about how to run a business..." After all, Alisha is a princess. It isn't often that someone can boast to her about wealth -- and her wealth is mercifully independent of her nonexistent business acumen.

She tilts her head to the side, though, at Rose's response. Then, she smiles a little more warmly than the response calls for. Maybe being seen as more than one's station means a lot to her.

"He is rather unique," she says, with a little laugh. "It is kind of you, though. Given his upbringing... I think he likes it when other humans see him as Sorey, instead of the Shepherd." But, then, her green eyes widen a little bit. "Sponsor?"

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

He... didn't tell her? Well! Fine!

Rose will inform the princess of the facts.

"Yes! Sponsor!" She puffs her chest up, puts her hands on her hips, and adopts that cat-like smile of hers when it's clear she's plotting something. Here we go, story time.

"It was a hour before the Sacred Blade Festival! Wandering boy Sorey wanders to Ladylake, carrying with him a royal dagger and a golden pipe! Lost and caught in the crowd trying to enter the city to attend the festival, he is spotted by the most elegant of the merchants there, yours truly!"

"Now poor Sorey, it turns out, doesn't have any money on him. With my eye for merchandise I spot the wares in his bag, but that dagger was far too important to take from him. He couldn't afford to get into the city, but us merchants have handy passes that let us through! Posing as one of us, it was easy for Sorey to enter."

"I hand him some money, because he'll definitely need it to get around town. He seemed nice, I was sure I'd meet him again for him to pay me back! And the rest, I hear, you witnessed with your own eyes~."

She might be blowing her part in this out of proportion, to be dramatic. "So! That's the situation. We're happy to provide the Shepherd with what he needs, since it gets us a bit of publicity too! ... when he actually remembers to say so." That part of the plan is kind of important. "Well, that's Sorey for you!"

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha stares for a moment. She didn't know that part of the story, as it happens. She knew that Sorey came hurrying to give her dagger back -- which was for the best, as it is a priceless artifact -- but it fills in a few blanks.

"Well... y-yes," she says. "I was at the Sacred Blade Festival, of course. I was quite surprised to see Sorey there again. He actually came to bring my dagger back to me." And to warn her that Lunarre was after her, but she thinks better of mentioning the attempt on her life.

Besides, she thinks Rose probably heard about that. It happened publicly.

"That was very nice of you, Rose!" she says, with a sincere nod. "Sorey... I'm sure he will tell others that you're very kind. Of course... I don't know that he has much business sense, either. I don't think he really had to worry about those sorts of things growing up."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"That sounds like him alright. Honestly I'm just assuming he grew up in some really remote village nobody's heard of at this point, the way he was looking at everything in Ladylake, it was like he'd never seen people or a city before. Maybe he was a farmer or something like that." Hey, Rose can be wrong too. Partially wrong at least. That's the best guess she can take without asking Sorey where he's from directly.

There's also no need to mention Lunarre, true! Rose was not happy with him that day, going after Alisha on her own like that. Unfortunately for Rose and the Bones, they couldn't see that he'd become something more than just a rogue assassin. He's still on their payroll! ... or he would be if he hadn't kind of walked off after getting scolded. Who knows where he is now.

"Well, that's that story, at any rate! So what have you two been up to? He only glossed over the facts, tell me about some of your big finds! Meet any interesting people? Find any priceless artifacts in ancient ruins? Maybe some tales of romance?"

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Ah... well... it isn't quite like that," Alisha admits, with a sheepish laugh. Should she really tell Rose where Sorey grew up? She wonders, for a moment. She hesitates, but the question that Rose asks her brings her out of that musing. Her eyes widen a little bit at the question -- and then she shakes her head quickly.

"We have--ah, well, we explored a few ruins! But we never quite found any priceless treasure. But it was all very interesting!" she declares, with a smile, and then she puts her fingers to her chin. "And we've met many interesting people, too. I've made a few acquaintances, while I have been here. Not anyone that I'm especially close to."

And then she blushes.

"...N-No, no tales of romance!" she says, her voice almost a squeak. "It would be hard, between exploring ruins, pursuing the Lord of Calamity, and my duties--well, I suppose my duties are not an obstacle, at the moment. B-But still!"

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"So what you're saaaaayiiiing is that the Shepherd is still free, then?" That's not a very fair question at all! It's obvious from the gleam in Rose's eyes that she is completely aware of the fact, too, and probably asking the question specifically to rile Alisha up.

You can tell it's a very important question because Rose drops all other topics and replies to stare the princess down for an answer. It might be she doesn't care about the answer and just cares to see how she fumbles about answering or not answering it.

In the background, it would appear that Eguille and the Ayn twins are back from their errand at the saloon. They give Rose a few thumbs up to indicate success before resuming their journey back to the Fairgrounds.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Whah--"

Alisha flusters more at that, before she shakes her head quickly, waving her hands in front of her. "I believe so, yes!" Even if she wonders, at times, about that. "Though, really, he... ah..."

She sighs, looking to the side. "I don't know that Sorey is really my type." Of course, if she is being honest with herself, she doesn't know if anyone is. Romance is hard to fit in the life of a princess in her situation. "Or if he is really interested in anyone."

Though she wonders, sometimes.

She looks back up at Rose -- and misses the twins and Eguille slipping by, behind her -- and her cheeks redden again. "It would be complicated for me and anyone, of course. Which isn't to say that I haven't considered--erm--"

She sputters, like she knows she might be digging her hole even deeper.

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

This is perfect. Rose's grin widens and widens until she just bursts out in laughter, almost bending over as a result. "I was kidding, princess! That face you're making is absolutely priceless though. If I could just frame and sell it I could go fifty years without working!" Her plan to keep Alisha's mind off the homeland is certainly working though. No one wants a moping princess! That's up to Sorey if he wants to break the news to her or not.

"I'm sure you'll find your dashing prince or white knight someday! My motto's always been not to worry about it, because if love doesn't hit you in the face like a brick to announce itself then it isn't love!" It certainly matches her personality.

"Ah! I hired Sorey for a little expedition sometime soon, some cave full of berries you started exploring already? I could use the extra hands when we go. Healing items are at a premium right now and I'm low on supplies. Not to mention they'd be invaluable to the Shepherd's journey, right?"

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

Alisha keeps blushing when Rose laughs, but there is a smile on her face as she looks to the side. "Y-You were teasing me! I would hardly call that fair," she says. "But if you did, then I should at least receive a portion of the profit..."

She sighs, before she looks back at her. "A white knight or a price? I don't think--I'm not sure that's really what I would want, but--" Then, she wrinkles her nose, and stares agape again. "Love is like... a brick hitting you in the face...?"

She doesn't quite follow. But, she does grow distracted. Something about the way that Rose called her princess feels familiar. She can't quite place why or how she heard it before. Her eyes narrow, thoughtfully, before she looks back up when Rose speaks. "Oh--that place! Yes," she says. "If you would like to come with us, that would be a true help! And the curative berries of this world are truly impressive. And much rarer than the herbs and gels back on the Silver Star."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"That's the plan! I don't know how much help I'd be, but I'm not totally helpless. Us merchants have to keep our swords sharp in case we run into some angry wild beast or bandits! Not sure I could hold a candle to the Shepherd's light but the more hands are on deck the more bags of berries we can haul out! Great way to meet some new adventurers too. They're invaluable as contacts go." They get you maps, rumors and gossip, loot from ruins, and they buy your wares! Adventurers are easily the best clients to have.

Seems like she lets go of the other topics again. Her teasing done, there's no point prodding the princess for more reactions. At least not about love. Rose smiles, regains her composure, straightens herself back up, and then pats Alisha on the shoulder.

"Great, that's settled then! One berry harvest, one hunting session with rifles, maybe a nice meal. Don't know how long I'll be in town but I don't have any urgent shipments leaving too soon, so we might as well use the time."

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Merchants do need to be resourceful, it seems." The princess knight smiles again, clasping her hands together. "Though I didn't know you could fight, too. Ah, and you might meet some adventurers. We've met a few. I believe they call them Drifters, here."

She might, technically, be one.

She tilts her head, smiling sideways at Rose when she pats her on the shoulder. "Oh, all of those sound nice," she says. "And... you'll stay in the city through the festival, won't you? I keep hearing about it. The wonders of the past, on display!"

She pauses.

"And selling things to all of the people here to look at them," Alisha adds. "I imagine you could make a lot of money from that."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"Of course I can fight! What, you think these knives are for show? ... wait, am I wearing my knives? Did I forget them again?!" A slight moment of panic as Rose twists her head to try getting a look at the knives she keeps sheathed on her lower back, in that X shape. They are there! She breathes a sigh of relief.

To her credit, they are not the same knives she uses when trying to kill people. Rose is not THAT airheaded. The way they're placed, though, is certainly similar. More clues for the clue pile.

Festival! Topic change! "Yes! To both questions. Of course we'll be selling and buying things during the festival, it'd just be a terrible idea to miss out on that! And I wouldn't miss out on the festivities for all the money in the world." Well... "Okay maybe for all of it I would, but I think I got my point across! I'm not big on archeology and that sort of stuff but I'm still really curious to find out more about this world."

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"I-I couldn't be sure! You seemed so..." Alisha hesitates, though, and quiets. "...It was hard to imagine you hurting someone, perhaps. That may sound silly."

Even if the way she wears the knives is familiar. Alisha doesn't quite connect that, yet -- but it is something for her to think about. She puts a finger to her chin, but the talk of the festival keeps her from trying to connect those dots just yet. She looks up, and then she smiles. "You did. You will definitely be there, then."

She considers a moment, before she adds: "I am too. It isn't like ours. Though... there are things in common, I think."

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"Hey now! I said I know how to fight, not that I'd hurt someone. I'd defend myself for sure, but I'm not some soldier who marches into war or anything like that. It's kind of a requirement when you travel a lot. The roads aren't safe! Especially not here. I'd rather just pay adventurers to fight for me though, you know?" In retrospect, she realizes Alisha might not know, being such a proper hero herself. She can't see the princess being at ease commanding the lives of others.

Ah, the matter of the worlds being similar brings her back and away from such a grim subject, at least. "It's funny, Sorey was saying the same thing. Then he immediatly started talking about how he wanted to keep Lunar from ending up like this place. I hope he doesn't get in over his head pursuing ideals like that. All this talk about lords and calamities is going straight over my head, you know? I'm just happy when I end the day with more gella than when it started." Which is almost every day, so Rose is a very happy person by her own account.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Ah... right. I knew that. I saw that bandits and worse could be on the roads," Alisha says. She sounds glum about it, but she nods -- even if she wouldn't hire adventurers. After all, as a knight, it was her job to keep the roads safe. Even if it meant fighting to do so.

She looks up, though, and she is glad for the change in subject. She hesitates, before she smiles. "It is a lot to worry about," she admits. "He has a lot on his shoulders. Two worlds to worry about. The Lord of Calamity, too... but, you have a point, too. It doesn't hurt to remember other things."

Like gella. Or simply enjoying being in another world. "But, you truly don't worry about things like that? Monsters, things that could destroy the world, or even what the kingdoms are doing?"

<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.

"A little bit, but I also know how to accept what you can't change! Someone a long time ago used to tell me you have to pursue what's within your reach, not far-off dreams. It's great life advice. I sell things, I don't change the world! Maybe Sorey can, or who knows what other big great legendary heroes are out there too. I don't think it's a great outlook though. It's like burning a candle from both ends. If you worry too much you won't be able to do anything after a while!"

She leaves unstated just how hard to believe it is that there's some mysterious invisible force that makes people evil. If that were true it would completely redefine everything she knows. People are evil because they're evil, not because some weird thing is making them so. How do you even cope with that knowledge anyway? That there's this massive force you can't stop?

Rose copes by not thinking about it and disbelieving.

"Well, it's not that this is boring or anything, but I've been away from the caravan for quite a bit now! I'd better check on my wares and get some things taken care of. It's been nice catching up! Try to take it easy and don't think about monsters under your bed so much, alright?"

Damn, why'd she have to go say that, now SHE'S thinking about ghosts under her bed. Sometimes she could swear her inn rooms are extra drafty even with closed windows. Shudder.

<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.

"Accept what you can't change..." Alisha likes the sound of it, but it also sounds hard -- perhaps impossible. A princess can change a lot. Even the things she can't... She hesitates, as she thinks of the same thing that Rose thinks of. She glances to the side for a moment, before she looks back at the merchant as she says her goodbye.

"Oh, yes," she says. "We will have to speak again soon, then. Good luck with your sales! And I will try."

Alisha smiles at her again -- before she puts the rifle back on the rack. The poor merchant she had been talking to looks back at her sadly, realizing he lost the sale.

But Alisha doesn't quite notice. "Have a good day!"