[Center][h2][color=tan]Juniper Lee Andrews[/color][/h2][/center]




"I know the path to the hall from here," [color=gray] she paused, brow furrowing, [/color]"I, ah, assume that's where you're looking to go."

[Color=gray] Juniper bolted where she stood, so engrossed in her own mental musings and irritation she had failed to hear the woman approach. She could feel her hands instinctively clench while she fought the natural urge to swing at the new figure. Owning an Inn wasn’t always the smoothest path—especially one that dabbled in the art of ale. Drunkards and lecherous figures always haunted in the shadows of her home. And with that in mind her father had taught her some skills in order to fend for herself if need be—not that she actually ever [i]needed[/i] too. 

She let out a hissing breath, a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a laugh, while she tried to cool the heat that flamed her cheeks. Lost, her first real day and she had already gotten herself lost. But the woman that stood before here didn’t seem to judge her, well not directly. She noted that her dark eyes bore into the wall next to them instead of down and through her. And in return she offered a small smile of thanks to be able to avoid direct eye contact for the time being. 

The woman was tall, though her judgement for other people’s height was skewed due to her own diminutive stature, and broadly built. With skin that was only a few shades deeper than that of honey. She could feel the strength that radiated off her, and not just from the taunt way she held herself. Nor the hardness that seemed to lie beneath her clothing. There was a sense of experience and rigid discipline, like the sea weathered sailors that she had seen over the years. Had she been back home she would have mistaken the woman for a captain or someone of great power.[/color]

“Yes, I am, actually. All these halls look the same to me,” [color=gray]she said while shifting nervously from one foot to the other. It wasn’t a complete lie either. The grandiose looking hallways mirrored one another, though not to the point that one would so easily lose themselves. But she wasn’t about to admit fully that she was to blame for her confusion, at least not to stranger. 

Before another word was spoken a new voice broke through the morning’s silence. Juniper tilted her head slightly to get a better look, hand raised in a half-hearted wave, while she spied a wash of pale blonde hair dip down in a quick bow. Before Juniper could get a better look the woman disappeared as quickly as she came and let her greeting die behind parted lips. [/color]

[i]Am I the only one having trouble finding the hall?[/i]

[color=gray]She shook away the disappointing thought and turned back to the woman with a bright smile.  There was no sense in letting it bother her any further as the reality of her new life came flooding back. There were people, not just servants wandering about. But real guild members—[I]real powder mages[/I]—and today was one that was heavy with promise. [/color]

“Shall we,”[color=gray] she asked with carefully concealed excitement. Juniper didn’t bother to ask whether the woman wanted to go the hall or not, but assumed that was where she was heading and was eager to follow her there. [/color]

[@Lasrever]