2017-11-12: What Is Art Really
- Log: 2017-11-12: What Is Art Really
- Cast: Alisha Diphda, Rose
- Where: Great Krosian Plains
- Date: 2017-11-12
- Summary: Rose and Alisha hang out, no subtext at all.
============================<* Great Krosian Plains *>============================ The bulk of the countryside around the capital city of Krosse consists of rolling, grassy fields, a stark contrast from the arid desert sands to the north. Every year, however, the desertification spreads, and more and more life is swallowed up by the sands. As travellers near the capital, the grasslands transition into cultivated fields. The yields from Krosse's farmlands have given the kingdom the nickname of the breadbasket of Ignas, and the majority of its trade centres around grains, fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs. While its might pales in comparison to its larger neighbours, Krosse maintains a significant standing army to help deal with monsters and green-eyed neighbours who might seek to seize that bounty for themselves. These soldiers are kept active by frequent patrols and maneuvers throughout the Plains and major roadways; as a result, travel in the kingdom is safer than nearly anywhere else on the continent. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYbFnoRSW6M
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
In the last couple of weeks...
...Princess Alisha Diphda of Hyland still has not learned to Armatize. She intends to ask around -- maybe outside of the Shepherds, such as Ragnell -- and keep practicing. She has worked on some new skills, including with her spear. But how does she practice a skill that she does not have? She isn't sure yet.
She isn't trying to worry about that directly. While much of Ignas does not get snow (Nortune is a notable exception), the high areas do. The mountains in the west of Krosse do, for instance, but one has to go up high for that. And, indeed, higher each year. Alisha decided that might be nice to see -- as a break from exploring ruins and as a break from practiing. As a chance to think. And, well, a chance to spend time with...
"Rose, isn't it pretty?"
She stops on the trail up to one of the smaller villages, nestled up here. She has a large coat on, bundled up over her armor. It's lined with white fur. The snowfall is light -- a thin coating, barely enough to cover the ground -- but the wind off the mountain blows her hair about. She flashes a smile, back down at her friend.
"I thought, maybe, seeing a place like this would give me inspiration!" To Armatize, of course.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
Rose has her hood on. It's cold! And she's a bit less inspired by the sights than her princessy counterpart, and so a bit more focused on the weather.
"We could've at least brought Lailah so she could keep us warm," she says, entertaining for once the thought of having a Seraph around. "I bet Dezel'd be fine for this too. Knowing him he probably likes these kinds of places, up high where nobody can bother you and you can keep an eye on folks."
When Alisha stops, Rose stops, looking down towards the village as she tightens the hood around her head. "Inspiration for what? This'd be great for a painter or a storyteller. Did you pick up some more of the fine arts and not tell me~? Be careful, I'm pretty sure Sorey can sense when someone is a storyteller."
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"Well... inspiration from the elements," Alisha says, with a sigh and a shake of her head. "I thought, perhaps if I expose myself to extremes, then I could learn to Armatize with one Seraph. Such as here, where it is windy, for Dezel." Nevermind that this is definitely not how it works. But, maybe, her failure to Armatize has been bothering her.
She folds her arms for a moment, before she looks sideways. She cracks a smile, then, and pulls her hood up. "I suspect that you are right, Rose," she admits. "I think he can. But no, I have not picked up--"
A beat.
"More of the fine arts? I--well, I suppose I enjoy singing, but is that really a fine art?" She keeps trudging onto towards the village.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"I think so, but what's art and what isn't sure seems to change a lot from person to person. I like to think anything someone is willing to pay to own is art, myself!" A lot of things are art, then. "Or any skill that lets you make a quick gella or five." Many more things are now art, too.
Glancing around, Rose shivers. "Maybe, but it's cold, Mikleo might like it better here. It's mountains, so Edna too. I guess that mostly leaves Lailah out. Can't see Ragnell or Mirielle enjoying this place much either." Maybe Ragnell, she wears a lot more clothes and doesn't mind the brightness.
A brow raises when Rose finally processes Alisha's explanation. "Oh, is that still bothering you? You shouldn't run yourself ragged over it, you know! You should just let it happen. I know that sounds dumb, but look at it another way, do you think Sorey becoming the Shepherd would've been as meaningful if he did it in the dead of morning or evening when no one was around? There's something about how that happened..."
Rose considers. She doesn't like the word 'fate' or what it entails.
"Right place and right time, like it had to work out that way. Just need to find yours."
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"That--" Alisha pauses. That, she thinks, make the definition of art very broad. She tilts her head, eyes widening for a moment. "But some art is wonderful, yet never paid for. And some skills are... er... would pickpocketing be art, then?"
She scratches at the back of her neck.
She turns her head, then she looks around for a moment. What Rose says next makes more sense, and she nods. The elements aren't so simple. Of course, Rose also catches that it still bothers her. She blinks for a moment. But, then she smiles.
"Mm... perhaps it does require an extreme circumstance," she says. "Something that brings it out. Is that what you mean?" Not all of what she means, Alisha thinks--because part of it sounds like fate. She looks down for a moment.
"I was--am, really--a faithful believer in the Goddess," she says. "Even though I knew Sorey, as a person... I admit that how he drew the sword, and became the Shepherd, resonated with that. It was hard not to. Even though I also knew how it wasn't like it was from a story book."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Why wouldn't it be? I've heard people refer to their fighting prowesses as art. Martial ARTS! I wouldn't call those fine arts though. Fine, that's more... singing, painting, the fancy people stuff!" Maybe cooking fits in there somewhere. Rose has a healthy respect for five-star chefs. Their meals, especially.
She could go for a big, hot steak right now.
Darn snow.
"Huh? No, no! I don't mean... well maybe extreme is part of it, I just meant... I'm not sure what I meant," Rose admits, laughing. "The 'right' moment. Whatever that means for you. Maybe it's just a day when you wake up on the right foot and everything goes so well your good mood finally lets you power through it. Maybe it's a day everything goes so awry you push yourself to surpass your limits anyway. Maybe it's just a lucky day."
Fate. Bleh. Even karma can't be trusted. If it could be the world wouldn't need assassins, after all.
"On the bright side you sure picked a nice vacation spot! If it was just a bit warmer I'd consider wanting to stay here. Maybe next we can find a beach? Something comfortably between desert weather and Snowpeaks, the Icecaps of Cold Weather."
Shiver.
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"Ah, that is true... and there is something very artistic about a well-done form," Alisha says. After all, the movements with a sword or a spear could be quite beautiful. The princess considers that for a moment as she walks, even as they come to the village. The entrance has a little snow over it, and she shivers slightly -- pulling the coat around her tighter.
"Ah, the 'right' moment... you think so?" she asks. "Well--I wonder, what made that day the right moment for you?" It was, at least, in part to protect her. Alisha couldn't argue with that. She still smiles, a moment, before she slips her hands out of her pockets.
"A beach might be nice," she says. "We would need the clothes for it. Maybe--mm, something warm would be nice. This village must have a cafe or some place for a hot drink."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"I know right? People look at me like I'm crazy when I say a combat stance can be pretty. Swinging knives or swords around isn't all about the swing! Your legs, your feet, elbows and shoulders and wrists, you gotta move your hips right and not waste any movements or energy. It might not be something you'd see in a museum but it's definitely art!" Useful art, too, unlike paintings! "As long as it's used for the right reasons anyway."
The other question, Rose bites her lip. "Oh, you know... I'm sure it was something. Maybe I was in the mood that day. Maybe Dezel fired me up by being a jerk. We might never know, princess!" We might, never, knoooooooow. Rose skips on ahead, past Alisha.
"They BETTER have something warm in there or I'm going to yell at them about wasting the most obvious of potential tourist traps I've seen!" Coffee'd be nice, but hot coco is even better. Do they have those on Filgaia? Filgaia is a hellhole but it can't possible be THAT much of one as to not have that, can it...?
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"Mm-hm. It is appreciated, at times, I found... but not always. I suppose it appeals more to the people who do it," Alisha says. She shakes her head -- and then glances sideways at Rose. She blinks at her, for a moment, and then looks back ahead. It was, she thinks, to save her. But she can't be sure about that.
"Ah, well... I am curious, if you do realize."
Maybe it will give her osme inspiration. She turns her head, and then flashes a grin at Rose when she yells that. She nods, and turns down a path. It has rocks, which wind their way towards a door. She stops before it, and opens it to a tavern -- more of a family-run cafe than a saloon -- and holds it open.
"We should go ask," she says. "I should hope they do."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"You'll be the first to know if I do!" Rose answers, which is a lie considering the first to know will probably be Rose. Dezel also already knows but that doesn't count.
Right now, the quest for some hot coco takes precedence over matters of concealing how much she's gotten to care. The thought of lying to Alisha like that isn't especially pleasing, admittedly...
Rose barges into the cafe when Alisha opens the door, crushing thoughts under her usual enthusiasm. "Heeeeey there! Two frozen tourists in dire need of something warm and spicy, what've you got?" This, at least, she knows how to do without being embrassed. Only a terrible merchant doesn't know how to be loud and visible.
"And don't spare the expenses, it's on me!"
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
Alisha looks sideways at Rose, and it doesn't even occur to her that Rose might lie to her. In that, perhaps, she thinks too highly of the merchant-slash-assassin. Or, maybe, she doesn't completely understand her yet. She smiles at her, then looks down and nods. She wonders, though, if there is more to it.
But her eyes widen at the loudness of Rose's voice when she enters. She puts a hand over her mouth as she steps in and stares, for a moment, at the bewildered eyes of the owner. A moment passes -- one where he, a mustached man in his forties, looks at the two with sheer confusion.
And then calls out: "Well, all right then! We'll get you some spiced cider right away!"
It isn't cocoa, but maybe it will do the trick. Alisha smiles, then, and looks sideways at Rose. "I--I am amazed that... that worked so well."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Thank you kindly~" Rose chirps, happily moving towards a seat, even pulling Alisha's back for her like a perfect gentlemerchant. "After you, your highness."
Once seated, she removes the hood from her head, unzips the coat, and lets out a sigh of relief. "Finally somewhere hot! Hotter than outside at any rate. Gosh, how do people live here all year round?" Not that November City and Bledavik are much better, weather-wise. Opposite ends of the same scale. Then she looks at Alisha, grinning.
"Oh, psht. No one opens a shop like this without being at least a bit of a people person. I'm sure our mister host prefers warm, outgoing clients to grumpy silent types!" That or Rose just has charisma, which isn't out of the question given her primary occupation. "How would you have done that? Knock first? Maybe have a vassal show up beforehand to reserve a table?" She's teasing. Don't fall for it.
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"Oh--oh, thank you," Alisha says, with a smile, as she steps over. She unfastens her coat and hangs it off the back of her chair, before she plops down into it. She stretches her arms, then shakes her head. "I wonder if it gets warmer. I noticed... ah, it is cold, but there wasn't that much snow."
After all, Filgaia is dry. Far drier than Lunar.
"I--I would not have a vassal do it!" Her cheeks redden, and she frowns. But, if Alisha didn't fall for it, wouldn't it be less fun? "I would knock, and then inquire if there is a good time for our arrival, and be back shortly before that time! In--in the event he had a prior engagement!"
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Oh you adorable princess you," Rose says with a widening smile. "The way these places work, if it's open, you can come in! Usually." Edge cases aren't good examples. "This isn't a big name, fancy restaurant for rich people. There's no waiting list to ensure you get the best and most expensive service. This is a place for people to wind down, relax, enjoy a good meal or drink on their time!" Maybe if this was some random guy's house they'd burst into it'd be another story.
They're RPG protagonists though so probably not.
"Well~. Your concern for people at least isn't misplaced. That's why I keep saying you'll make a great queen someday. You won't even enter a restaurant without considering if you might be inconveniencing someone! I'll teach you how to relax yet, but I'm starting to think it might be a lost cause~."
Rose giggles.
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
Alisha's face turns redder for some reason. "I--I know that, but... but still! I have always wondered if I am inconveniencing them!" She is not, it happens, countering anything that Rose has said. She sighs, before she glances to the side -- beet red, by now. Being told she will make a great queen, one day, will do that to her.
"I can so relax. I have relaxed plenty of times before!" Sometimes, even in Rose's presence. But, if they weren't joking, it wouldn't be so fun. And, really, the way that a smile tugs at the corners of Alisha's mouth says more than her words.
But she blinks, when two piping hot mugs of cider are put down in front of them with a clank. She stares down at them, then licks her lips.
"Those... those smell good," she says.
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Be careful, you're already redder than a drunk, I'm afraid if you drink that you'll start illuminating Filgaia like a second sun!" Rose boops Alisha on the nose. Boop.
"See, this is what I mean. Less worrying about whether or not you're a burden or why you can't Armatize and more enjoying your time! Maybe peace of mind is what you're missing? Too much on your mind at all times, it might be making it hard to synchronize yourself with a Seraph."
There might be at least a little bit of truth to that. Rose and Dezel did kind of sync up yelling at each other there. Only Lailah would know for sure if it really helps.
"Mhm, now THIS is cider! Worth the trip all on its own!" Rose doesn't hesitate and just gulps down half of the pitcher in one fell swoop.
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
The boop does nothing to make Alisha less red. She makes a high-pitched noise something like a whine.
But she sighs, and then she glances to the side at Rose -- and at her advice, such as it is. "Mm, maybe so... I do worry a lot, don't I?" Rose often tells her that. She picks up her mug, holding it for a moment -- letting the heat seep into her fingers.
Then, she takes a long sip from it. She doesn't gulp the whole thing down, though. Instead, she sighs happily.
"It is," she says. "I haven't had cider like this since I was on the Silver Star..."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"You sure do," Rose says, after wiping her mouth with her sleeve. It's alcohol, it's fine, it won't freeze outside. She sets the mug down and places her hands under her chin, observing Alisha.
"I know telling you not to worry won't actually make you stop worrying, though. It's just who you are. I wouldn't like it too much if you changed abruptly and suddenly! I'm just saying, relaxing a bit more might help you. Not just with your duties as a princess, knight or Squire, but also with being you and smiling more often."
Wait did she just say cider on Lunar?
"Cider? In the palace? Oh my, did the king know?"
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"With--"
That, also, doesn't stop Alisha from blushing. It does make her smile, though, and she looks down at the tabletop thoughtfully. One finger traces along with wood grain for a moment. "I doubt that I will ever stop worrying," she admits. "But... still, I think you have a point." She smiles a little more, before she looks up.
She blinks, before the smile comes back, and Alisha nods her head to her friend. "Oh--oh, yes," she says. "He knew. Actually, ah, that was one of the things that Father did with me. He would sneak some cider in with me, when I was younger."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Reeeeaaa~aaally? Now that is some royal gossip! The king taught his daughter to drink?" Rose laughs. "I'd pay to see tiny tipsy Alisha. It must have been nice for him to have a way to bond with you." What with the mother situation and all.
"I'd go as far as to guess he might have been doing that as an excuse to spend time with you without saying so outright. Brad was the same. Fathers just don't like admitting they want to be close to their sons and daughters!" Rose picks her mug back up and sips from what's left.
"When we get back to Lunar, you should make sure to get something nice for him from here. I don't know what kinds of things he likes, but I'm sure you can figure the perfect gift out! You know, besides the gift of his daughter returning in one piece."
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"Oh! Oh, not alcoholic cider, it was apple cider!" Alisha says, with a shake of her head. "I had beer and that sort of cider when I was older, but... not from my father." She shakes her head, but laughs. The image is funny -- even if it never would have happened.
"He did do it to spend time with me," she says. "I think it was that. Ah, and... it was complicated. He was often busy, and the court did not approve, if he spent too much time with me, before I was legitimized."
And after, but that's different.
"He... mm. I am not certain," she admits. "I think I could find something. Father was... typically interested in books. And reading. That sort of thing."
<Pose Tracker> Rose has posed.
"Oh, then that's easy! Just give your father Sorey, he's like a walking encyclopedia, it'll count!" Rose says, barely containing her sudden fit of giggles. "Then while they're busy talking about things they've read you can sneak out the back and come play with me, some kids found a dead rat and want to go poke it with sticks." The joke might be lost on Alisha, having grown up in the nice part of town, but maybe she yearned to be like other kids and it won't be!
"Ahah~. Well, I'm sure you'll think of something. Shame about the gossip though, now I can't unsee tiny tipsy 'Lisha. I think I'll just choose to believe that's how that went regardless."
A firm nod.
"I could go for a second mug, how about you?"
<Pose Tracker> Alisha Diphda has posed.
"I--I am not giving Sorey to my father," Alisha says with a groan. She puts her head in her hand, though she smiles a little. But, she blinks once. "Why a dead rat? Surely, we could find... literally... anything else?"
She looks at her, then, and tilts her head. Her eyebrow is raised at the image of tipsy Alisha -- but then she smiles at the offer, and nods.
"Yes!" she says. "Let's get another. I don't think we should leave just yet, besides!"