Night Sky's Pre-Party Date [private to Night Sky]

[borelblue]

Aymeric gladly leads Night Sky around an open market in Amberfall, an arm always ready to link with hers. It's her birthday - or nameday as he would say - and so she gets to decide what they do. Which stalls they visit, and for how long, are up to her. He's just happy to see her happy. There was once a time where Night Sky was denied a simple pleasure such as this. And following, she still remained rather withdrawn. But here she is, continuing to blossom as she celebrates a milestone she wouldn't have gotten to have otherwise.

Little does she know that there's more planned beyond shopping and afternoon tea, but Aymeric hasn't let anything slip.

And so the day is hers, more so than she even realizes yet. Although Aymeric is ready to go wherever she wishes, he doesn't quite move as she goes to move on from their current stall. He's distracted with mulling over two different options. He does need a new body soap, and these two do smell quite nice...

Comments

[wildwarden]

Night Sky hadn't celebrated her birthday in a long time. Back home it had essentially been a countdown to her death - one year closer to the inevitable - and when she well and truly did die, well, birthdays wouldn't matter again, would they?

Until they did. Until she came back and she met Aymeric and Saya and the handful of others she had come to trust and love in the new world she was in. She should have known that Aymeric would not let the day go uneventfully.

She was at his side most of the time, but since she had grown more used to the crowds of the city - primarily because she visited Aymeric more often these days - she didn't have too much trouble wandering a bit. Given how she lived in the woods and took quests constantly, she wasn't hurting for coin - but she still didn't seem inclined to buy anything herself. Seemed too indulgent.

"Hey." She called, having moved only a few steps before realizing he wasn't coming with her. Night Sky reached out to hook her arm around his and lean into his side. "What're you looking at?"

[borelblue]

He smiled as she came to his side, breaking his train of thought in the process. "Oh, pardon, I was distracted by choice."

Aymeric was about to say they can move on if she wanted to. It was her day - he would follow where she lead. And he should be purchasing something for her, not himself. However, another idea came to mind instead, one that would let him purchase something for himself while still giving Night Sky the reins.

He held up the two soaps he was looking at to her. "Pick one for me, would you, my dear?"

One was a rich scent akin to tea with an undertone of orange and clove; the other was fresh and piney with a warm, almost smokey touch.

[wildwarden]

'My Dear.' It would be a cold day in hell when she stopped swooning over every endearment he aimed in her direction, idly said or not. Night Sky looked up at the offered soaps, half tempted to make a joke about how she, the wild woman from the woods, probably shouldn't be judging pleasantly smelling soaps because she only even used them now because Saya and Aymeric had brought them to her attention.

She sniffed one, paused, then sniffed the other; did it again a few more times. Instinct had her leaning toward the pine scented one, the hint of smoke akin to her own scent, really. But did she want Aymeric smelling like her? Or did she want him smelling like tea and citrus and spices - something distinct that she could inhale and commit to memory - the scent left upon her skin; upon sheets and pillows.

"That one." She said, pointing to the tea-scented one. "It suits you better, I think."

[borelblue]

"Thank you," he replied with a nod. And a moment later, he had a bar of it purchased and placed in a satchel at his side.

"Pardon the distraction. This is your nameday - let us return the focus to you, hm?" said Aymeric as he took Night Sky's hand and kissed it. He held it as they continued walking once again. "Where to next, my lady?"

Hopefully, something will catch Night Sky's attention before their afternoon tea. He wanted to ensure that his gift was something she truly wanted.

[wildwarden]

My lady. Hand kissing. Gods. Sometimes she really did feel like a princess or something when she was with him. Night Sky leaned into his side again, damn near obnoxious in her obvious fawning. How could she not, though?

"Wherever." She shrugged, just glad to be out and about and only minutely anxious about the crowds around them. Aymeric made her feel safe enough that she didn't worry overmuch as they strolled past various vendors. Eventually, she did notice something- the silver jewelry glistening in the sun. And more specifically, the flower pendants the man behind the counter seemed to specialize in. "Oh, wow. Those are gorgeous..."

[borelblue]

And he leaned right back, smiling down at her. Sure, it was mainly a view of the top of her head, but it was the top of her head.

A jewellery booth? That could be promising. And she was right - the vendor's pieces were beautiful. "Indeed they are. Shall we take a closer look?"

Aymeric lead them to the booth. Various shining trinkets and pieces glittered in the sunlight. For a moment, he understood crows' instincts for gathering such baubles.

"Does anything catch your fancy?"

[wildwarden]

If Night Sky were smart, she probably would have put two and two together and realized what was happening. That Aymeric was trying to find something to get her for her birthday and she was picking it out for him. As it was, she could only seem to focus on how pretty the pieces were, pointing to the heart shaped bronze piece with a single forget-me-not in the center. Simple and beautiful.

"That one is gorgeous. I wonder how they stay alive like that." Magic, she presumed. Encasing it in resin was a strange concept to her.

[borelblue]

"As do I. If not magic, then perhaps it is the material itself? Regardless, 'tis a truly beautiful piece. It would look wonderful on you."

So she liked that necklace; Aymeric continued watching her to see if anything else stole her attention more. As much as he liked her first choice too, it was ultimately up to her.

Then would come the issue of buying her choice without her noticing.

[wildwarden]

"You think so?" She laughed, just a touch bashful as red rose to the apples of her cheeks. It might have been the combination of her initial interest and Aymeric's comment that had her honing on that necklace for a moment longer, and not even mentioning anything else.

She turned toward him after a moment. "Onto the next booth?"

[borelblue]

"I know so," he replied as he gave her hand a squeeze.

That was the one. She didn't pay attention to any others, and she was ready to move on. Great - he had an objective.

But she was ready to move on.

He nodded with his smile unwavering as they began to walk away. He couldn't give himself away, even as he frantically thought of ways to keep them there a moment longer. "Very well. I think I see some rather nice scarves - "

Meow~

They had a visitor in the form of a cat. It rubbed up against Night Sky's leg and meowed again. With its thick, sleek black fur and a blue collar, it may even remind her of someone she knew.

[wildwarden]

Night Sky eased up on her toes and looked around in an attempt to spot whatever scarf stall he spoke of, only to be distracted immediately by the feeling of something furry rubbing against her leg. If there was one thing that always caught her attention, it was a cute animal. She was crouching down in an instant, hands reaching out to pet along the cats head and sides.

"Aww! Hello, baby. You look like Aymeric if he was turned into a cat." She chuckled. Now's your chance, Aymeric.

[borelblue]

Now's his chance indeed. Aymeric silently thanks Halone as he pulls a handful of money out of his pocket. He holds it out to the vendor; with the other hand, he makes a "shh" motion, then points to the necklace in question.

"Oh, I hadn't realized I had a cousin here all this time," he managed to crack even as he and the vendor figured out their silent transaction. "What a sweet creature."

The cat, meanwhile, flopped over onto its side to let Night Sky love it as much as she liked. It purred like an engine, loud enough for Aymeric to hear.

If only he could be petting it too - but this was too good an opportunity to pass up.

[wildwarden]

Night Sky laughed but otherwise remained blissfully unaware of the transaction happening literal inches away from her, her attention fully on the cat now allowing her to pet its belly — carefully, of course, she knew how easily such beasts could turn. "He's a cutie, too, just like you." She replied, scratching under the cat's chin until it seemed to have enough and started to roll back to its feet. "Aw..."

[borelblue]

The cat rubbed against her leg one more time before darting away in the direction of a vendor with food - which gave Aymeric the second longer that he needed to receive the pendant, tied in a small white bag with a green ribbon, and slip it into his pocket.

"Of course. Fickle beasts though they are, and yet we cannot help but adore them," he said with a shrug. He offered his arm to her. "Shall we, then? As I was saying, I believe I see some lovely scarves at the next booth. Is that one of emerald green hue?"

She likes green; hopefully that'll get her looking all the more intensely away from the jewellery booth. As they leave, Aymeric looks and mouths "Thank you" to the vendor.

[wildwarden]

"They are adorable." She had a very slight preference for dogs because they always wanted attention, to the point it was annoying. Kind of like her these days. But she wouldn't say no to a cute cat either, clearly.

Night Sky looped her arm around his and leaned into him slightly, happy to follow him toward the scarves he pointed toward. "You know, if I still covered my mouth all the time I would be all over these." She was still interested. But wearing a scarf for the sake of fashion and not to try and keep your tuberculosis cooties away from everyone? Wild. "Maybe I'll get one anyway..." with all the quests she did, she absolutely had the coin for it.

[borelblue]

"I'll not deter you," said Aymeric. "'Tis your nameday. And if not for that reason, you have made excellent progress in learning your letters. And it will look lovely while we enjoy our tea together. There are worse things that one might spend their hard-earned coin on, no?"

He wanted Night Sky to have more nice things. If he had to make it happen by enabling her to treat herself now and again, so be it.

[wildwarden]

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Night Sky never was one to indulge in things like fashion accessories, given there was no need for them in the forest, but it was nice to have the option now. Besides - why have all of those moon coins if she wasn't going to spend them?

She eventually purchased a nice emerald green scarf, draping it around her neck as she turned back toward Aymeric. "I think I'm ready for that tea if you are." A not-so-subtle suggestion that she had had enough of the crowds.

[borelblue]

"An excellent choice," he said as he fussed with the scarf a little. It looked fine; the action was more about showing his approval, and some light touching as a bonus. "You wear it well, my dear. I daresay it was made for you."

"Aye, as am I. Come, then. 'Tis this way."

A short walk later, and they were being seated in the teashop Aymeric picked. Though elegantly decorated primarily in white and gold, the atmosphere was casual. Really, it was a simple teashop that wanted to look nice. Hopefully Night Sky would see it as a treat without finding it intimidating.

Ever the gentleman, he pulled Night Sky's seat out for her.

[wildwarden]

She certainly wouldn't be complaining about either. "Thank you, sweetness. Wouldn't have spotted it without you."

At this point, with Aymeric beside her it was difficult to be intimidated by much. She didn't like crowds, but she liked people well enough, and with a buffer of a tall, muscular, Elezen knight by her side, being in the city wasn't so terrible.

She took the seat with a nod of thanks and waited for him to settle across from her. "This is nice. Do you come here a lot?" Genuinely asking. She didn't exactly know his routine in the city at this point.

[borelblue]

"I have started to, aye," he answered as he sat. "I've but discovered this teashop recently, but I am already quite impressed. Enough so that I deemed it worthy to treat you to."

High praise, indeed.

"Their blackberry scones are especially good," he added with a little wink. "I made doubly sure to order some while making my reservation. Everything should be brought out momentarily."

True to his word, the servers soon approached with two tiered pastry stands, loaded up with the aforementioned scones and other little finger foods, as well as their teapot and cups to go with it. Steam rose from the teapot's spout, the brew ready to go. This wasn't just tea drank in the afternoon, this was a proper Afternoon Tea.

Aymeric thanked the servers as they left, then held out his arms in a "ta da!" gesture at their full table.

[wildwarden]

Night Sky's smile warmed right along with her cheeks, clearly pleased to hear that he had thought so deeply about her and her birthday that he had been deeming things 'worthy' enough for her. He almost made her forget she was some wild Sylvan who hadn't even dreamed of going to a teashop prior to her arrival in Ellipsa. It was like she was a proper lady.

And he ordered scones with her favorite berry? She could have kissed him were it not for the small table between them. She did reach for his hand and squeeze though, before their tea and food arrived.

"Thank you, Aymeric. This is all... really nice." Too nice for her. She did not voice that part, pulling her hand back as the items arrived and she stared in wonder at the display. "I feel like I should be wearing a fancy dress for this or something." She laughed. "Is there like... etiquette I should know?"