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Black Pearl	The Chateau of Resplendant Delights has been gaining a reputation over the past year, to be the premier new place to be within the city. Known to be run by one of the Realm's Dynasts, it combines the styles of the Realm with cuisines from a number of different places in Creation. The scents of different cuisines and teas blend together harmoniously, with the subtle scents of alcohol and other intoxicants that provide a hint of what is available deeper within the building. On a stage, there is currently a pair of juggling acrobats plying their trade, and the servers make their way among the tables to make sure that all are content and sated in their needs. And, above on the second floor, overseeing it all, is one of the Princesses of Creation--Exalted by the breath of the Water Dragons, she watches to ensure that all runs well. Because everything needs direct attention from time to time.
Tiziri	Arriving with a reservation in place for a single table? Ardent Vagabond is currently dressed the part in a suitably fancy outfit of at least one of the Realm Fashions that's spread to Great Forks. No doubt a bit out of fashion were it worn at the fanciest parties in the Realm, but still pretty on pointe this far out. Especially for someone not a Dynast, and that's at least obvious enough in more ways than one. She's left her weapon secured somewhere. Her eyes wide as she takes in the place with curiosity. Once she's gotten to her table she starts to peruse a menu and starts by ordering a heated rice wine.
Black Pearl	The server is attentive and cordial, escorting the lady to her table before going to get the drink. And the particular rice wine that is ordered gets Pearl's attention. And so when the server returns, it's with a full bottle held in a warming container as well as two cups. And after he leaves, the water-caste makes her way over to teh table. She's currently in silken clothes that flow around her and both hint at and hide everything beneath them. "An interesting choice, and an interesting newcomer," she says in a clear soprano voice in Riverspeak, though her accent marks her as a foreigner. "I hope that you do not mind me joining you."
Tiziri	As the woman approaches, Ardent Vagabond stands to offer a greetings with her fist in an open palm along with a bow. "Greetings." She says. Her accent marking her as very much not from the region either. Her movements were probably pretty notable too, as she has the exceptionally easy grace of a dancer or a skilled martial artist even without trying. Her gaze momentarilly falls to the extra cup that was brought here. "I am honored you've come down to join me, even if humbled and surprised to be seen as interesting." She says, "And please, you are absolutely free to join me. Conversation and meeting new people is a joy of new places."
Black Pearl	Black Pearl smile and inclines her head. "Indeed, knowing new people and making new friends can be a delight." She takes her own seat then and settles in, moving with her own grace, poised and confident. "Please call me Black Pearl," she says, "and who are you?" The proprietress herself! Dynast, and rumors say part of Cynis, the House of decadence. "I am sure I would remember if I had seen you come in before."
Tiziri	"Tiziri, also known as Ardent Vagabond." The young woman with the blue-brown hair says with a smile as she sits down. "And you are correct, it is my first time here." She says as she picks up the warming bottle to pour for first Black Pearl, and then herself. It's a pretty practiced sort of pour too, like she's poured many drinks in her life or something. "I'm still pretty new to the city, and I have been enjoying exploring its many sights and delights."
Black Pearl	"It has a wide variety of things to see here, and opportunities for those with quick enough wit to have them. My time here has been tumultuous, but profitable, and with a bit of joy from time to time," Black Pearl says. When the rice wine is poured, there is a awrmth to it, and it certainly smells strong. Pearl raises her cup for a sip, then lowers it. "What brings you here? What goals have you? Desires? Dreams?"
Tiziri	"The dream of seeing new places." Tiziri says, before giggling a bit and picking up her cup and holding it with both hands and inhaling the aroma of it. "So really, wanderlust. Though it's holding me here a lot longer than most places would because there really is so much of interest here. Nothing tumultuous, thankfully. Even my trip here to Great Forks was quiet. As for here tonight?" She gets an almost impish grin, "It just looked good, the sort of place I'd love to see and experience."
Black Pearl	"Well, we have many delights available for whatever your desires are, for food and drink, for stronger potions and elixirs. Any delight can be had for the proper negotiations." She smiles, "It is part of my pride that no-one leaves here unfulfilled, unless they offend me." Another sip of the wine, "There is a sap that goes well with the wine. It enhances the taste and is a mild hallucinagen, if you care to try?"
Tiziri	"Oh, really now?" It seems Tiziri's attention has been caught! "That sounds delightful." After another sip of her wine she sets down the cup then and says, "Any food pairing with this and the thing you mentioned as well? If not, I'd be interested in any specialties, particularly spicy noodle ones."
Black Pearl	"We have a wonderful recipie from Gem--or at least the chefs assure me it is--that is a thick, spiced gravy over noodles," Pearl responds. "It should certanly be an experience." And as Pearl lingers, the air is growing a bit more humid, not yet damp. "However, you should wait a couple of hours before leaving, to let the effects fade."
Nine Roads Alani	The door to the Chateau opens, and a figure in a tasteful, well-appointed robe steps inside. She's blonde with her hair pulled back in a half-pony tail, with a light tan and athletic figure. Her robe is expensive but understated rather than ostentatious, but the style is difficult to place. Her own movements are smooth and flowing, but direct and forthright. Her hands are folded before her as she speaks to the headwaiter, and her expression is generally friendly but distracted as she takes a good look around. While she takes note of everyone she sees, when she glances at Argent Vagabond, there's a bit of a hitch before she continues looking at others.
Tiziri	"That sounds wonderful to try." Tiziri says to Pearl. "My travels never got me that way, but it's ok. It's far more interesting to drift with the wind and see what that leads me to." She also nods. "Oh, staying a while isn't a problem, I don't think." After a moment she notices the new arrival too, and gets a weird expression, but then looks back to her drink and picks it up to sip once more.
Black Pearl	"Well, I am enjoying my stay in Great Forks, and my family would be...put out if I left before they recalled me," Pearl says with a chucule, and then blinks slightly when she sees the other newcomer notice her partner. "And, well, it seems that you ahve someone looking for you...." She smiles a bit. "There might be something brewing...which, of course, makes things all the more interesting..." Those bright blue eyes look to the newcomer and she nods slightly, before catching one of the servers and giving the order to be brought to the table.
Nine Roads Alani	Well, uh, -that- didn't go as planned. At all. Seeing as how Alani had every intention and expectation to be sat alone somewhere, and was now looking at the rest of the decor, it's not until she's very nearly at the table that she realizes where she's being brought. She glances at the server who's escorting her with surprise, both eyebrows raised in a mild, and quite genuine, 'what-is-this-now?' look before meeting Pearl's and Ardent's eyes with her own. There's a bit of social uncertainty to be certain, but not a trace of fear. "Well. Well met to you both. Although I'm not entirely sure..." She glances at the server again, but lets the rest of the obvious question go unasked. In truth, her attempt to protest her presence here is more for form than anything else. She at least has an inkling of why she was brought here, though some of the sentiment is genuine.
Tiziri	Tiziri seems a little bit befuddled as well. "I'm... not sure why. There's this weird feeling I should, but I don't get why." She admits, looking down at the wine, "Unless this wine is a lot stronger than it tastes." She quips. Then, Alani is brought over and the young woman holds her cup up in greetings. "Hello. Have we met somewhere before?" She asks with a raised brow. "You look oddly familiar, but I can't place why."
Black Pearl	"The doings of the gods work throughout the city...probably something is happening with them," Pearl says to Tiziri. And then when Alani comes over, the water-caste smiles brightly. "Welcome. Please, join us. We have a lovely wine, and other delights coming. If those are not to your taste, well, much can be had here. I am Black Pearl, the owner of the establishment. Who are you? I woudl ask what brings you here, but I choose to think that it is our reputation."
Nine Roads Alani	The blonde in the robe can only look at Tiziri, hands folded in front of her, and offer the Lunar the very saddest smile possible, full of difficult-to-parse emotion. In reply, she murmurs, "...No. No, we haven't," and while there's not the slightest shred of effort to sound believable, it's nevertheless...true? False? Both at once? Almost instantly, whether she was lying or not starts to feel...muddled. It almost feels like the importance of finding out is questionable. It's hard to read all of the emotion on the blonde's face, but as she turns to Pearl and is offered wine, her mood does seem to perk up. "A lovely wine sounds wonderful, Black Pearl. Please, call me Aster Anri. I...well, I didn't expect to be brought to someone else's table, but it's nice to meet you both. And I was pointed here by a few fine people in the market when I asked for a place for a fine meal, so I'd say your reputation truly does precede you." If she's lying about that, she's doing a magnificent job of it. She takes the offered chair and sits gracefully, but there's something about how she moves...
Tiziri	"Tiziri, or Ardent Vagabond." The young woman introduces herself in turn, setting her cup down and placing a fist in her open palm in a common gesture of respect in some areas. Truly, she still seems like she's trying to place Alani. But continues the conversation, "This one is quite good, Aster Anri. I recommend it." She picks her cup back up and sips it, "A perfect warmth for a chilly day. It will help both inside and out." She assures. "We were just discussing food options and Black Pearl recommended me a dish from Gem with noodles in a spicy sauce. I am most interested in trying it."
Black Pearl	A third cup is brought and some of the strong, warmed rice wine is poured for Aster Anri as well then. "And a sap that alters perceptions is being brought to go with both, but not all seek to indulge with such things." Pearl sits down herself. "I hope you will enjoy yourself here, and if there are any...particular desires, please let me know. Almost anything to delight the heart can be had here." Turning to Tiziri, "And, perhaps this is a boring, pedestrian question, but...what do you do, besides simply flow with the wind? And what of you, Aster Anri?"
Nine Roads Alani	As "Anri" sits down, she accepts the cup with grace and a smile. She takes an appreciative sip, visibly relaxing as she lets the warmth flow through her. At the mention of sap, though, she simply nods knowingly. "I have taken no vows of bodily purity, you understand..." Her words sound serious but are probably facetious. No one does that but the most dedicated ascetics. "...but I do at least need to keep a few of my wits about me. This -is- very nice wine, though, and I appreciate it. I've been traveling much lately, you see, and it's nice to be able to sit down and relax for a bit." At Pearl's question, the blonde smiles. "Flowing with the wind is a pretty good way of describing it," she replies. "I have a certain...freedom...others lack. So long as I'm not home. It pleases me to find my own way, and though I'm new come to Great Forks, I like it here already."
Tiziri	"I wonder if we met at some random roadside teahouse, shared a drink or a hookah, and that's why you seem familiar" So many faces on the road." Tiziri guesses as she regards Anri some more. Then as the question is asked by Black Pearl she gets a more sheepish sort of look about her, the grin almost embarassed or something. "Must I do anything else?" She asks, before continuing. "I consider myself a bit of a poet though. An explorer. I feel they all flow together. Yes, I further admit to some modest skill with the spear, I've often helped fund my travels by guarding caravans. Fortunately I have rarely needed to use that skill, still, a necessity for safety in all of the above." Her grin grows more wry as she holds up a finger profoundly, "Especially poetry. You would be surprised how violent that community can get." She laughs then. "Truly though, the pursuit of new things pervades all things for me."
Black Pearl	"It is wonderful. Myself? As many are, I am at once constrained and free, and so I dance gaily among the constraints, to weave a weab of beauty and delight, to be part of something larger than I am," she says spontaneously. "And you have not been to the poetry contests I have, first at the Spiral Academy and then among the salons of the Isle. Well I know how cutting things can be, and have seen duels erupt. Only the bounds of decorum prevented mere brawls from breaking out." She laughs delightedly. "Still, as long as you fit in to your life, you need not do more than you are." Anri then gets a nod, and eyes gleam brightly. "Well, if you have ventures in the city, perhaps we might work together. If not I, I can certainly help you find someone you can work with. Or at worst, find someone who will help you find someone." And then there is a waiter coming with covered dishes that smell of spices, both hot and savory, as well as a polished wooden vial that has an herbal scent close to it. But there's something in the waiter's eyes, and Salara frowns slightly before rising. "Ladies, my apologies, but there is something that is requiring my attention elsewhere in the Chateau. I hope you both enjoy your stay..."