[RP] The Inn of Peace - IoP (Open to all)

[Gren_Eckener]

"Your wife is doubting my grilling ability. It's a matter of honour." Gren replied, beginning a dry rub of spice and garlic into the meat. "You want one too?"  

[Azana Brown]

Max answered, shaking her head slightly. She had gotten herself into a lot of trouble over things like that...but since it was already stopped, what was the harm?

"I think she just wanted one of your steaks," Sosol commented, glancing toward the door momentarily. "I don't blame her...since you're already doing so, sure. Can't let a good grill session go to waste. I'll saute up some veggies; we're not carnivores."

Azana tucked the special brownie away; she had planned to snack on it, but this worked out even better. Besides, she could get to know Sariel a bit...and spend a little time with Malachai. Bara wasn't very active at the moment.  

[Angeles Valentine]

Sariel really got to eating as everyone else headed into the kitchen. It was a really good meal, and she wondered how many times it would be like this before she had to leave again. After all, her father was still around somewhere with a lot to explain.

She distracted herself momentarily, taking a moment to go back to the soup before it got cold, to look at the automaton who was sitting still by the wall. She was curious about what it was doing now, and looked over at where it had been cleaning. Maybe it was now idle because its task was complete? She caught herself wondering how sentient it must be, or if it was one of those who was blissfully enslaved to a master. She shook the thoughts out of her head, and went back to eating.  

[Gren_Eckener]

"Mushrooms for mine." he said genially, getting to the skillet with the meat.

Malachai, left to his own devices, scampered into the kitchen, retrieving some ice cream in a charming lilac hue before scampering out of the Inn.  

[Azana Brown]

"Alright," Sosol answered plainly, slicing mushrooms alongside some onions and greens. No time for starches, but that was for the best. There was still plenty of winter ahead...

Azana sat down across from Sariel, awaiting the impromptu dinner. "So," she said to break the relative silence. "You're trying to find your dad...right? What's he like?" After all, she had been at the Inn for a while...it wouldn't be out of the question to have met him if he had strolled through.  

[Angeles Valentine]

Sariel looked to Azana as the woman sat down and covered her mouth as she finished chewing her bite and set down her utensils to show that she would not be distracted from the conversation.

"I only have vague memories of him," she began, clasping her hands together, "he left when I was very young. My mother, though, speaks very highly of him, said that he was a very talented elf, handsome, charming and caring. When she speaks of him, its as if she's talking about some sort of avatar of the gods or something. Which makes it all the harder for me to swallow knowing that one day he just... left her. Especially considering that our instincts of having only one lover our whole lives is about as strict as a griffon's."

Sariel sighed and sat back in her chair, "had he left during a time of war to be a soldier I would understand, but it was during peacetime, and my mother awoke to find him gone, and the forest sentries said they saw him leaving the woods. They thought she knew. He never returned and... she still loves him."

Sariel shook her head, looking at the empty fireplace and staring at it for only a second.

"Sorry, you asked a simple question and I gave you an angry rant," she laughed sheepishly, running her hand through her white-streaked hair, "what was he like though? He was a somber man, my mother would tell me. A quiet thinker over a man of action. She says he often would be struck by a thought and stand in a single spot to ponder on it for hours with a hand on his chin. Often he would be lost in a book for days. He was an appreciator of the arts, but especially theater. He loved tragedies," Sariel shrugged finally, "but it's all hear-say."

Sariel smirked almost deviously, "I've been following him since I was old enough to leave the forest on my own, and every time I come across someone who has seen him, it's always been 'about a year ago.' It might just be the centuries weighing on my mind making me think it's deliberate, but I'm beginning to think he's deliberately outpacing me by a measly year, even if I delay my travels or track as fast as I can.

"This time, it was a man in town, multicolored hat, brown hair, normal information broker type I think, blue eyes of a rat. Said he saw him pass through town about a year ago, heading in this direction."

Sariel paused looking at Azana, "you wouldn't have happened to have seen an elf, male, only a few inches taller than I am, hair like moist soil, eyes like ivy leaves, a bit fairer skinned than I am, narrow face, high cheekbones, lithe body?" she smiled in good humor, "probably about a year ago?"  

[Azana Brown]

Azana listened intently to the long story, the bit of a rant. Sariel felt abandoned by her father and had no closure as to why or who he had become in the meantime. Unfortunately, the description wasn't terribly helpful; the only elf she could remember in recent memory was Aravilui, and he was blonde.

Sadly, she shook her head softly. "Maybe I just have a lousy memory, but I can't say I've known someone who matches that."

The skillet flipped and tossed vegetables on its own as Sosol watched carefully. He hadn't tried to saute before like this, and he didn't want to mess it up too badly.The rest were all chopped already and waiting for their turn...just in case someone didn't want all three.

"You know...I've been thinking. It's been a little while since I've heard from Kristen..."  

[Angeles Valentine]

"That's alright," said Sariel, relaxing again in her chair, "I'll pick his trail up again eventually, I always do," she moved the cider back into her hands, but didn't drink it, simply curled her fingers around the warm surface, although it was losing heat gradually, "I'm sure all sorts wander through here?"  

[Gren_Eckener]

"Yeah?" said Gren, turning the steaks. "...You're right, it has been a while...I wonder what she's up to?"  

[Azana Brown]

"Heh, that's an understatement," Azana chuckled, shaking her head as if dismissing a rolling wave of nostalgia. "Vampires, demons, superheroes, artists, ninja, elves, giants..." She counted them on fingers for good measure but quickly ran out of digits.

"I think you get the idea. We're a very diverse bunch, and yet we somehow manage to work."

"There's a good way to find out. Fire up one more, and I'll see about summoning her," Sosol grinned, already sending out the mental ping. After all, they were siblings. She'd definitely get the message.

We miss you. Come home for a bit.  

[Gren_Eckener]

He grinned, giving another the same treatment before tossing it on. "She strikes me as a medium-well type...it'll be good to see her."  

[Angeles Valentine]

Sariel tilted her head at the list of all the things that had visited, curious and impressed.She had to smile though, "you include 'artists' in your list of very fantastical things," she gave a small laugh but then added, "but you have had other elves besides myself visit? I've seen the dark ones in the city, was this the same kind?"

One of the many things she had enjoyed when travelling, learning about the different kinds of her kind that were out there, beyond the confines of her home forest.  

[Azana Brown]

"I don't think we've had a dark elf grace the door in a long time," Azana nodded in thought. "There was one not too long ago...fair-skinned, blonde. Forgive me if I butcher the pronunciation, but he called himself Aravilui. A real class act, though pretty quiet compared to some of the folks who call this place home."

"Definitely. I know it's not for real, but it's nice to have a little sister...you know, I really need to introduce her to Will and May. She probably doesn't remember them much." Some things, he supposed, simply slipped through the cracks of memory. If he did consider her a sister, she ought to meet the two, right?

Very well...do I sense plans? Food? I'll be there as soon as I can.  

[Angeles Valentine]

Sariel smiled, "you pronounced it fine," she said, "that name is from a place far away from where I'm from. If you'll forgive me in turn, what does it mean to be a 'class act?' Do you mean that he... acted classy?"

Some cultural differences were new to her, even for being well traveled. She was imagining a Quendi in a top hat, tux and walking cane. It was a little amusing and Sariel tried not to smile.  

[Gren_Eckener]

"Well, then, what makes it not for real, besides you thinking it isn't?" asked Gren, covering the steaks. "Family's what we make it. Blood's thicker than water. If you say she's your sister, and she says she's your brother...I don't see anyone denying it."