[color=f7941d][b]ASTER NOLS[/b][/color] with [b][color=d8cfbe]ELISE DALRIS[/color][/b] - Harrow's Keep: In Town

Collab with [@Aviaire][hr]
For Miro, exotic jams. There were a range of peppered ones on the third lane, he was sure to enjoy it.

For Leesa, seeds from north of the range. To sate her completionist tendencies rather than whatever fascination she held for the region, Aster assumed. Or hoped, at least.

For Pa… um. Businessmen liked pens, didn’t they? There were some nice pens around here somewhere. All glossy and professional-like.

And for Carrey.

Aster dragged the last piece of meat from the skewer, flavor and texture barely registering. The object of her focus lay on a cushion before her, the centerpiece of a craftsman’s stall. A ball-jointed wyvern posed stoically. Two hand spans from the snout to the tip of the tail, Aster guessed. Exquisitely carved and polished.

[color=d8cfbe]“Taking a hard look, aren’tcha?”[/color] the stall-owner drawled.

A shrug. [color=f7941d]“Sure. How ‘bout that lad in the middle there?”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Twenty-five middlers.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“[i]Twen—[/i] Hah!”[/color]

Aster threw her head back and guffawed. Quite obnoxiously.

The street was packed with people, which was no surprise. What was unusual was the commotion from higher up, that was slowly making its way down to Aster. Up the street was the approaching figure of Elise Dalris, laughing maniacally as she ran through the crowds. It awkwardly parted for her, causing people to crash into each other and spill whatever they were holding. She didn’t really seem to care.
It wasn’t long before she was even closer. She was holding her trailing dress off of the ground, revealing her heels that she shouldn’t be able to run in - but she was. Elise spotted Aster, and called out. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh! Miss Esmerelda! How wonderful to see you, why, it’s been-”[/color]

She stopped much nearer. She walked down to Aster, frowning a little. [color=d8cfbe]“You look… very young, don’t you? Oh, you’ve got to tell me what you use for your skin. Especially since Nols is so sunny!”[/color] She paused. She looked around. [color=d8cfbe]“Uh, you are Miss Esmerelda, aren’t you?”[/color]

Aster’s mouth clamped shut at the noble. The noble approaching her. The noble approaching her at a [i]very alarming speed[/i]-- Goddess, have mercy!

She felt the disapproving specter of her father’s hand shove her head into a stiff bow.

[color=f7941d]“N-Not at all, m’lady. I’m--I am Aster Nols of the Ethra Company,”[/color] she declared, watching her speech now. And from this position, watching the noble’s footwear too. Gosh, she sped here in those cloppers? 

Not important, Aster. The noble made a request. 

[color=f7941d]“And, far as I can… recollect, Esme--[i]Lady[/i] Esmerelda uses one of Kiehl’s herbal concoctions. It’s the region’s leading parfumerie. They’re making plans to expand to Granis mid-Brilia.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Ethra… oh, I know what that is,”[/color] Elise replied, looking thoroughly confused. [color=d8cfbe]“A Nols branch, I presume, how quaint! To bring the family… I should’ve done that too. Though House Aureolin is close enough. What inspired her to bring you along, I wonder?”[/color]

As she spoke, Elise glanced up the street she had just raced down, eyes darting back and forth. She looked a little jumpy, tapping her fingers against her waist impatiently.

[color=f7941d]“Bring along?”[/color] Aster must really not have looked the part of a noble’s entourage. Which was kind of the point. Whatever. [color=f7941d]“Oh, no, I’m here at P--my father’s request.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Well, that’s just…”[/color] Elise trailed off, sounding distracted. [color=d8cfbe]“Here, of all places? Surely you have something to do with Miss Esmerelda. Why, my own branch family would never come near me without good reason. I suppose my natural superiority must intimidate them, yes - but it’s not as she’s any more meek than I am!”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“Ahah. Hah. Yes.”[/color] Aster attempted a laugh. That was a joke she was making, right? Aster learnt that the key to shooting the breeze with nobility was to just lean into the flow and agree with whatever they were saying, so… [color=f7941d]“Ayup, Esmerelda can be a real cow sometimes!”[/color]

Elise quirked an eyebrow. She looked rather amused. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh, but that’s-”[/color] she stopped. [color=d8cfbe]“Well, Miss Est- Aster, it’s been a real pleasure, but uh, I was just wondering if we could take this chat somewhere else? Why, this street sure is… crowded.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“You want to… w-with me?” [/color]

This was starting to become a difficult position. The noblewoman - Dalris, Aster remembered her picture in the newspaper now - was absolutely right about being intimidating, as if her mere status wasn’t enough trouble for the drover. As much as she desperately wanted to scamper away, there was no way Aster was permitted to refuse a superior. Pa would have her head if she did it for no good reason.

[color=f7941d]“Oh, that’d be swell--uh, lovely, but I was just in the middle of…”[/color]

She turned back to the stall-owner, who was now bearing his ultimate customer service face at the two women. What on Teliv was this guy so cheery for?

[color=d8cfbe]“Nobility! If I’d known earlier… oh, dear Goddess!”[/color] He grabbed the wyvern and practically shoved it to Aster. [color=d8cfbe]“Here, eighty percent discount. No, just take it!”[/color]

Damn you, craftsman. 

[color=f7941d]“Gee. Thanks.”[/color] She dropped a handful of middlers on the wyvern’s former perch and tried not to look too disappointed when she turned back to Dalris. [color=f7941d]“I s’pose my shopping is done. Did you have a place in mind, Lady?”[/color]

Elise reached for Aster’s wrist and pointed at an alley a little further down the street. [color=d8cfbe]“Come on now. Quickly!”[/color]

[color=f7941d]"W-Whatever you wish--woah!"[/color]

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Elise gave Aster a harsh tug before she started running again. Slower than before, but still very quickly. When they rounded the corner, Elise’s bodyguard, Leras, could be seen shoving through the crowds and calling out her name. Elise was cackling. 

Into the alley they went, past a bin where someone was making bird noises, left, right, left, and so on. They eventually stopped near the edge of the keep, near some houses. Elise wasn’t out of breath at all. She was still laughing. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh, Miss Leras really is a prude. A lady must have fun from time to time - stress is awful for your skin, you know.”[/color] She released Aster and kicked at a stone on the ground. [color=d8cfbe]“Who cares about safety when you’re in a place like this? Why, if I didn’t have complete faith in the tower’s security, I wouldn’t be here.”[/color] From where they were, the tower was fully visible. [color=d8cfbe]“You still haven’t told me why you’re here, have you? My, my.”[/color]

Aster was still panting from the sprint. She could see the Keep's outer wall from here. How far had they run?

[color=f7941d]"I… I'm not sure what you mean. Pa--my father sent me here to drive the Lady's carriage to the rail station once the talks are done."[/color]

Elise scoffed, continuing to walk around, motioning for Aster to follow her. She had no idea where she was. [color=d8cfbe]“Rail stations… oh, those barbaric things.”[/color] There were fewer people here, but still quite a few. A couple came down the street, one of them complaining loudly about beastmen. Others were scattered around, having their own conversations. Elise continued. [color=d8cfbe]“How typical of House Nols. Surely, they are insecure of their position, and-”[/color]

She whipped her head around to look at Aster. [color=d8cfbe]“Say, what has your… Ethra Company been up to lately?”[/color]

These questions were starting to pile up. [color=f7941d]“Well, my father is home, preparing for the Solstice Ball. Leesa’s been setting up a scholarship program with Teglo. Solaris’ cattle routes are almost finalised and I can pretty much say the same for the new naval routes… Speaking of which, Seler was supposed to send a response weeks ago… Ah, I s’pose we’ll have to wait a bit longer with everything going on.”[/color]

Aster seemed lost in thought before finishing her report. [color=f7941d]“The Ethra Company does publish a bi-annual newsletter, i-if you’re interested in that.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Don’t worry, there’ll be nothing in there I don’t already know.”[/color] Elise swatted her hand. [color=d8cfbe]“How ordinary you are! Truly, it’s adorable. That’s just how commoners are, isn’t it? At least you’ve got the Nols name going for you.”[/color]

Ahead of them, there seemed to be quite the commotion. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh? What’s this?”[/color] Elise said. [color=d8cfbe]“This doesn’t seem like the kind of place where much happens, does it?”[/color] It was a little ways off, but she craned her neck in an attempt to see what was going on. Judging from her expression, she couldn’t tell.

Any semblance of courtesy from Aster was rapidly diminishing. Insecure? Ordinary? [i]Adorable?[/i] See, this - this was what always happened with these types.

[color=f7941d]“What can I say?”[/color] Her cheeks felt strained. [color=f7941d]“[i]Commoners.[/i]”[/color]

The Lady did make a point. It seemed quite the ruckus for a small town. Aster marched forward to take a look, not waiting for Dalris to follow.

Elise hummed indignantly, following up soon after. A group of people were crowded around something but it was easy enough to see through. In the center of the crowd were two men - one holding the other by his shirt, screaming at him. Scathing words accompanied by spit.

[color=d8cfbe]“You hear me, you disgusting piece of shit! Don’t ever get near my wife again, I tell you!”[/color]

The other man replied in a calmer voice. [color=d8cfbe]“Sir, I was just asking her a question-”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Don’t you talk like that to me, you damned beastman,”[/color] the angry man screeched. He wasn’t wrong - the man he was holding was evidently not human. His light clothing revealed feathery patches on his body, combinations of yellow and orange. Upon a closer look, these were accompanied by sharp claws, talons, and even teeth. Among the crowd of Croanians, he looked sorely out of place. [color=d8cfbe]“I know what your kind do!”[/color]

Aster grimaced. She was no stranger to spats like these, isolation could do pull all sorts of tricks on outdoorsmen like her and her team. There was little excuse here. The man was a loon for making such a scene and the beastman made a mistake coming here. Should have known better, should’ve known how people treated animals like him here.

Hm. That wasn’t true. Even animals were appreciated more than this.

[color=f7941d]“What a mess.”[/color] Aster clicked her tongue, unmoving.

The crowd jeered. The beastman grimaced. [color=d8cfbe]“If you’ll let me go, sir, I’ll be on my way. I swear to you, I’ll leave shortly.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Why, you…”[/color] the man hissed. He released the other man only to punch him across the face. Cheers filled the street. A woman stepped forward, tentatively placing a hand on the man’s shoulder. [color=d8cfbe]“Dear, let’s...”[/color] She attempted to diffuse the situation, but she seemed more concerned for her husband than for the beastman. 

He shrugged her off. [color=d8cfbe]“Not now, Aima. You gonna fight me, huh? Or you gonna take it like a coward? You’re gonna wish you never came here, bastard!”[/color]

Elise yawned. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh, how irritating. Picking fights in the middle of the street? Why, it’s best to just ignore that kind, isn’t it?”[/color] She stood a few metres away from the crowd, watching what was unfolding on her tiptoes. She seemed unwilling to come any closer.

[color=f7941d]“Aye,”[/color] Aster frowned, wincing at the sound of the impact. [color=f7941d]“What’re you going to do?” [/color]

Fights were inevitable but pummeling anything while they were down was a whole different matter.

[color=d8cfbe]“Nothing, of course. These kind of things tend to end themselves.”[/color] The corners of Elise’s lips turned up. [color=d8cfbe]“If you want to intervene, I wouldn’t mind. In fact, that would be.... yes, entertaining.”[/color]

The man punched the beastman again. [color=d8cfbe]“Speak up, bastard! I can’t hear you!” [/color]

The beastman scowled. He was sounding more and more agitated as he continued speaking. [color=d8cfbe]“Please listen to me, I’m looking for my sister and she-”[/color]

Another hit. Elise hummed a tune to herself. Aster’s eyes widened. The beastman recoiled, choking. 

[color=d8cfbe]“Don’t lie! You motherfucker! Everyone knows beastmen don’t have families! I bet you just wanna take advantage of us and then… and then rob us, bastard!”[/color] Everyone else seemed to agree with that, as far reached as it might be.

That beastman was going to end up dead soon. Aster rolled her shoulders. [color=f7941d]“Hmph. If it’s entertainment the Lady is after…”[/color]

She’d give her a show. The drover shoved her way forward and bellowed airily. It was the same tone she used to direct her men across the thousands of miles that spanned Croania. [color=f7941d]“Gosh, what a sight! I’ve roamed all over, from Seler to Aureolin, and let me tell ya, I have never - [i]never![/i] - seen balls the size of yours, good man.”[/color]

She slapped a hearty hand on the aggressor’s shoulder. Confidence and unearned familiarity.

[color=f7941d]“The reins’ve really slackened in Eckels’ musty hands, eh? Look at y’all squabbling like monkeys in an open street. In front of nobility, no less!”[/color]

Aster took a meaningful glance at the towering woman.

[color=f7941d]“How… What was that word from before, Lady Dalris? Irritating? Naw.”[/color]

She turned back to the man and smiled like she was looking at a child eating paint.

[color=f7941d]“Adorable.”[/color]

The crowd shrunk back at Aster’s words, parting ever so slightly until the man was face to face with Elise. She grinned and gave them a small wave. Murmurs rippled around before the crowd began to dissipate. People muttered farewells to each other and awkwardly shuffled away. The man looked furious. Before the last of the crowd had disbanded, he turned back to the beastman in an attempt to get one last blow in.

He missed. The beastmen easily dodged it. [color=d8cfbe]“Go home,”[/color] he said. His voice was cool yet filled with anger. [color=d8cfbe]“My Lady… I don’t have the [i]time[/i] for this…”[/color] Giving a grateful nod to Aster, he scurried off, only to be caught by Elise. She looked at the place where she had grabbed his shirt with mild disgust, though her cheerful expression soon returned.

[color=d8cfbe]“Oh, but could you spare some time for another lady?”[/color] she said. [color=d8cfbe]“I don’t think I’ve met one of your kind before! Why, it would be rude to leave so soon, correct?”[/color] Elise released him. He made no attempt to leave, but he gritted his teeth. [color=d8cfbe]“Well, why don’t you introduce yourself, Miss Aster?”[/color]

[color=f7941d]"Aster Nols. Ethra Company,"[/color] she responded, still wary though she was no longer in danger of soiling herself. How long was this ordeal going to take?

[color=d8cfbe]“Wonderful. Elise Dalris myself, though I’m sure you knew that already. As for you?” [/color]

The beastman shuffled. [color=d8cfbe]“...Ephraim. You know, I really should go, I really [i]really[/i] need to find my sister.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“Better to let him go, Lady. Wouldn’t want you spotted fraternising with a beastman.”[/color]

Elise frowned. [color=d8cfbe]“Oh, that’s right, isn’t it? I’d almost forgotten.”[/color] She squinted a little, tilting her head. [color=d8cfbe]“He almost looks like a human if you look at him at the right angle.”[/color] She held her hand up in front of her face. [color=d8cfbe]“Isn’t that fun?”[/color] She spoke slowly, as if to draw out the conversation out for as long as she could. She was enjoying it, too.

The beastman frowned. [color=d8cfbe]“Thank you very much for your help, Lady Nols. Lady… Dalris,”[/color] he added. He continued speaking, much faster than Elise was. He looked like he was getting ready to run somewhere. [color=d8cfbe]“If I might… in case you happen to come across my sister - Euphemia, she is - if it wouldn’t be too much of a problem, take her to the house right next to the keep gate, then I’ll be out of-”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Elise!”[/color] The woman in question froze up. The voice of her bodyguard called out, and she knew for sure she was caught. She’d spent so much time watching the fight and agitating the beastman that Leras had caught up. She turned stiffly. Ephraim mumbled another thanks to Aster and bolted before Elise got the chance to turn around. She looked most displeased.

Leras rushed up to Elise, grabbing her by the shoulders. [color=d8cfbe]“Eli- Lady- Miss Dalris,”[/color] she settled on. [color=d8cfbe]“What were you thinking? I can’t believe you! Who is this woman? For all you know, she’s taking you home so that she can-”[/color]

Elise pushed Leras off of herself. [color=d8cfbe]“You’ve ruined the fun,”[/color] she whined. [color=d8cfbe]“I was having such a brilliant time.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Fraternising with suspicious folk is not fun. That’s how you get killed!”[/color] They both turned to Aster.

[color=d8cfbe]“Oh, Miss Aster isn’t suspicious. Right?”[/color] Elise said.

The blonde's frown twitched.

[color=f7941d]“No, no.”[/color] Aster rolled her eyes. [color=f7941d]“I was definitely about to take you home to do… whatever you were saying. Ayup.”[/color]

Leras grabbed onto Elise’s wrist with narrowed eyes. [color=d8cfbe]“That’s what they all say. Next thing you know you’re taking them to House Immolis for the chopping block.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“You know, you really are overreacting! Me and Miss Aster were just having the most wonderful time.”[/color]

A harsh tug, and Leras began to lead the taller woman off. As they started walking, she turned and spoke to Aster. [color=d8cfbe]“Stay out of trouble,”[/color] she said. [color=d8cfbe]“And I better not see you around Miss Dalris again, got it? She’s troublesome enough on her own…”[/color] Off the two went. Elise gave Aster a smirk before she returned to whining at Leras. The bodyguard seemed to be used to Elise’s antics. And then Aster was left alone. The drover gave a small wave, out of courtesy rather than interest, and remarked to no one.

[color=f7941d]“She’s not even my type.”[/color]