Tristaan had decided to take the longest way possible through the Dives to get back to the Circus, humming to himself as he wandered into Painted Ladies district and continued on his way. It wasn't necessarily because he was avoiding all of the last minute preparations he had agreed to lend a hand with as much as he knew he really needed some time to sort things out. A long, thoughtful walk was totally in order to sort out the past day's jumble of exciting and terrible events and emotions.

While he briefly considered stopping by the Book and Bell and apologizing profusely, the passive wasn't sure how well his presence would go over quite yet. It was too soon, and he knew he would just end up making a mess of things if he tried.

He missed his hat.

As he turned things over in his mind and walked along, Tristaan watched the crowds, studying faces with only a hint of nostalgia. The daylight always made the Dives a little brighter, regardless of his childhood memories of growing up in the Soot District. It'd almost been ten years since he ran away, a handful of them spent with Wicks on the road, and the rest in Old Rose, honing his talents. Briefly, he wondered if anyone he worked with, anyone he'd known, would even recognize him now or if he would be able to place them if he saw them.

Ariel loved Painted Ladies district and the reason why was quite obvious – because of the colours. It didn’t matter to her that the paint job had seen better days without crack and soot; the colours were still visible and beautiful nontheless. Maybe it was just her, but to Ariel the whole district seemed like a rainbow and she loved rainbows.

Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes. People were passing by and they probably didn’t even notice the thin figure that was sitting against the blue coloured house. Or maybe they did, since pure white person was hard to miss, but who cares? As long as no one bothered her solace, Ariel was happy. One her hand was resting on her knee, the other was holding the lute. Oh, yea ... Ariel slightly opened her eyes. Where should she stay for tonight? She still had two tallies but she wasn’t very fond of the thought about spending them in only one day. Subconsciously touching the strings of her lute, the albino girl sighed and closed her eyes again. Somehow she felt too lazy to play today.

Ah well, what it has to be done, it has to be done. She slowly stood up and stretched her back. There were days when she just wanted to sleep...

She picked up her bag which was patched on many places, and her lute. With long, thin fingers she played few quiet notes and suddenly, she was in her own world again, ignorant for all around her. Those few, quiet tones soon multiplied and formed less known music about waking morning in forest. A gentle smile played on Ariel’s face and she leaned back against the blue painted wall.

Still humming, his trail of thought about his diablerie experience was soon distracted as Tristaan noticed Fion's purple house. The passive reminded himself to come back by and pick up his new clothes before the Circus. They'd probably be ready soon enough.

Oh, darn, another excuse to come back into town ... Heh.

He was so going to need someone to help him with that clocking cravat. What if it was the clown?

Embarrassing, but possibly necessary.

It was then he noticed that his humming was not the only music around, and that not all of it was in his head. It was a subtle sound, possibly still a little ways away or just played softly. Keeping his eyes open for the source, mostly out of curiosity, the passive continued his meandering pace through the street.

Music was like a drug to her. She easily forgot about everything around her while playing the lute. And seeing that her music made others happy too was even more rewarding. She finally opened her eyes and gazed around. Few people were standing in front of her and listening; the others just looked at her and went their one way. Hmf, she could do better! They will all stand here and listen to her music.

Ariel made two steps forward so she could play a livelier tune. You can’t play an energetic song while leaning against the wall, looking all bored, right?

This time she got more audience, which pleased her ego quite a lot. Well, every successful performance made her ego grow a bit.
When her music was near to the end, she played it quicker and quicker till her fingers hurt. She wanted to make an impression after all and if that would make her some money, even better. Finishing as dramatic as she could, she then bowed deeply and even more dramatically. And while she was looking down, she was thinking which sound she liked better: the applause or the sound of falling coins. Meh, probably both.
When people went their own ways again, Ariel picked up the coins. Not bad, actually, just enough for a decent room for two nights. Great! Now she just needed to know where to go.

(( trying to move in on Tito's turf?

A sole wick walked down the street, boldly playing a metal-gilded guitar. It was a flowing melody with odd chords sticking out. A small smirk curved up from the corner of his mouth.

He wore his usual black shirt and wide-brimmed fedora, but stressed black jeans with sparkling chains covered his legs. A necklace of large amethyst beads hung loosely around his neck and down his chest.

((Your territory ... but Wicks are teh banned! lawl. Just messin'. ))

Tristaan finally caught up to the source of music and paused. The girl playing was strangely familiar, and yet the passive wasn't sure if it was just because she was so unusual. No. It was definitely because he'd seen her before. He considered while he listened.


Hovering while the other on-lookers began to disperse, he finally decided that he had definitely seen the girl playing her mandolin before. He couldn't place her name, and only her features and albinism stood out in his memory. It'd been a long time since he was just another passive kid on the streets.

With a smile, the man stepped forward, almost forgetting he wasn't wearing a hat as he began to reach up to tip it but refrained, "Junta, lass, that was a nice song there." He didn't want to sound awkward, but he was admittedly curious, "Are y'playin' the local sounds of Vienda or did y'come from somewhere far away'n'exotic?"

Ariel put those few coins in her bag and was already preparing to leave, when someone spoke to her. This surprised her, yes, and when she looked up to face that person who had greeted her, she didn’t quite know what to say.

“Oh, h-hesta,” she straightened up, clutching her bag and lute.

“Um, mujo ma,” it was so nice when someone praised your work personally. “Well, local sounds for now,” she smiled, feeling a bit more confident, since the man asked so nicely. “But I wish I was from somewhere far away’n’exotic,” that was her plan, actually; to leave this place and experience an adventure.

Ariel messed her hair just to get rid of small pieces of paint that found their place on her head. Sighing, she put the bag on her shoulders.

“For now, the most exotic place is going to be Old Rose. Maybe some captain will like my music, who knows?” she shrugged and smiled shyly, as if hoping, that she’ll get on someone’s ship and travel far away from here, was something embarrassing.

She knew the Old Rose wasn’t the most well reputed place, but she was somehow drawn to it. Just thinking about the beaches, lively chattering of people from all around the world, drunken singing in the night... Call her crazy but she would be glad to play drinking songs for tavern patrons.

The man smiled, shaking his head. He finally had placed the girl in his mind, though it was still vague and as a kid he had probably only met her in passing, "Old Rose, eh? Aye, it's quite th'place ..." He spoke as if he knew what he was talking about, grey eyes shining mysteriously.

Tristaan chuckled, "It's good t'see that at least one of us hasn't changed so much, Flour Girl. Vienda has continued to treat you well, eh?" He rubbed the back of his neck with a wink, "I grew up here, an' so it's hard t'forget a face like yours, even if you may'n't recognize mine."

Flour Girl? Did he just say Flour Girl? Nobody has called her like that for months. Slightly leaning her head, she gazed at him and tried to place him somewhere. She was quite good at memorizing but only if the subject was interesting to her, or if the subject was music, of course. Then there was no way she could forget it.

“Wow!” she laughed light heartedly. “How great is that, huh? Someone actually knows me! Heh, maybe not in the way I would like but, hey, you mustn’t be picky.”

This really made her day; first earning enough for food and bed and then this ‘meeting’. She took another good look of him, trying hard to remember. Hm... Then it struck her.

“Blimey,” she half whispered. Now she remembered. Whenever she was bad as a child, her mother would point at one or another group of children that worked in the factories, threatening that she would send her there too. Ariel never listened to her though, knowing that her mother would never do something like that. But now she remembered that sometimes she saw a boy that was a bit different than others; much more... aristocratic. She always wondered what he was doing there. And then sometimes on the streets ... Blurry image, nothing more actually, but she was certain that was the same boy.

“There are two options; I’ve mistaken you for someone else, or my memory is so good that I admire myself,” she giggled quietly. “Say, were you one of those who worked in factory? If so, then I’m probably right. But anyway,” without waiting for his response, she held out her right hand. “My real name is Ariel, by the way.”

((I hope I wasn't exaggerating with her memory .... Tell me if it's not good and I'll fix it somehow .))

Tristaanian arched a slim eyebrow in amusement, but shook the girl's hand with his own warm, calloused one, "Oh aye, that's a good memory you've got after all. It's been a good ... eight ... ten years since I was a scrawny boy in th'Onthian Mill of Textiles and Metal Workings. Oh, Alioe, I can't believe I remember th'name of that place, even."

His face darkened briefly at the memories, but he kept his smile as he released her hand, "Name's Tristaan. I'm actually up from Old Rose for a bit ... Have y'seen th'flyers for th'Circus?"

“I knew I was right,” she laughed, not noticing slight change on his face.

“Oh, no, I haven’t actually. Something I shouldn’t miss?”
Putting her jacket on, her eyes stayed on Tristaan. She liked him, but then again, she liked everyone that was nice to her.

“So, how’s Old Rose like? It’s worth going there? Or should I be afraid of getting killed or robbed or whatever?” she grinned. Yes, the idea of being a victim wasn’t really a pleasant one, but somehow Ariel wasn’t worried; although she probably should be.

The passive briefly glanced past Ariel and noticed a familiar face, but couldn't remember the name of the nice musician who kept Calli so entertained a few nights ago. Had they even been introduced? He had been a little, distracted, after all.

He then put on his best salesman voice with a grin, "Oes, th'Circus should be a lot of fun, from what I've seen of everyone's practicin'. I ent actually ... in th'Circus," He winked, "It's somethin' worth seein'. Definitely a bit cheerier than what's been goin' on in town, that's for sure." By that, of course, he meant the riot and it's subsequent consequences, but he wasn't really about to say all that out loud.

Tristaan readjusted the strap that held the blade over his shoulder, as if preparing to make a point about Old Rose, "As for th'Harbor, oes, it's a dangerous place ... but really it's not all bad. If you ent lookin' for too much trouble, y'don't have t'find it. There's some nice places, but y'still should know how t'defend yourself. Just in case."

Ariel went quiet for few seconds, thinking about what Tristaan said about Old Rose. She wasn't much of a fighter, and even though she had a dagger, it probably wouldn't help her much since she only knew how to slice bread or apple with it.

"So it seems I'll need to be good little girl then," she mocked and rubbed the tip of her round nose. "But when I'm already here, why shouldn't I see the Circus first?"

Changing her mind instantly, she was now determined to go to the Circus instead straight to Old Rose. Old Rose can wait after all. The whole harbour shouldn't just disappear, right?

"Oh, you think I would be able to earn some extra money there?"

((Sorry I didn't replay before. This week is harsh ><.))

"At the Circus, you mean?" Tristaan shrugged, "That's for watchin' now; auditions were a few days ago. I'm sure there'll be plenty t'do before an' after the show, though. I think it's best to go'n'watch an' not worry about performin'."

The man rubbed his chin, "As for Old Rose ... well ... let's just say currency is very different there, dependin' on who you end up doin' business for. Are you plannin' on goin' by yourself?" He now could say he knew a few people who would be headed that way, but for various other reasons.

"Oh, rats," there was no need to stress that she was disappointed. If she only knew earlier ... or better, paid attention earlier. "You're probably right. Just watching without worrying sounds even better," disappointment vanished as quickly as it overwhelmed her and she was again that cheerful girl.

"Well, yeah actually," she shrugged to his question about travelling to Old Rose. "I mean, I know no one who would travel with me. I'm not even sure if I want any company. Wasn't considering that, I just decided to go there."

Tristaan nodded in return, "Well, I'll be headin' back there after th'Circus, eventually for good. So, if'n you do make it to the Harbor, at least you'll know someone there." He smiled warmly, knowing Old Rose could be a hard place without friends, "I might even know some folks headin' there before me ... If you find yourself at th'Circus after all, I'll see what I can do if you don't want to travel alone."

"Great, it would be nice to know someone there!" Ariel said happily. "And even have a possible companion? Wow," she was truly amazed. So many good things happening in one day? Almost hard to believe. Maybe there was a catch? Nah.

"Aw, only few more 'steps' and I have an adventure," she realized. "How exciting! So, where's that Circus? Come now, tell me, so it'll start soon!"
A wide, sincere smile was drawn on her face and her bright blue eyes shone with excitement.

"Well, the Circus ent openin' officially until 30th. That's when the real event is. It's outside of town, through the Northwest Gate. There's a big tent. And vendors. And all sorts of things. You really can't miss it." The passive chuckled, adjusting the sword over his shoulder and hooking a thumb in the strap that held it across his back.

"I'd say come early to get a benny seat." He winked, "If I know to be expectin' you, I'll see what I can do 'bout that." Apparently, everyone in Vienda would have a good seat if he had anything to do with it. He wished it could be so, anyway.

Hugging her lute, Ariel listened to what he had to say. For change, she actually listened. Big tent, vendors, all sorts of people ... And as Tristaan said, some of them were probably heading to Old Rose. And some of them were musicians!

"Really? Would you really find me a good seat? Wow," she felt like a child on her birthday with loads of gifts. "But... If you really manage to do that, I have nothing to repay you," she realized. "I doubt I'll earn enough money till then."

Tristaan smiled, shaking his head warmly, "You ent gotta repay me. Just show up an' I'll see what I can do. I have yet to run int'anyone from my past here, save yourself, so consider it my treat for old time's sake." He chuckled, for most of his memories were not really pleasant ones. It had definitely still been a worthwhile trip.

"I'll keep an eye out for ya, oes?" He adjusted the blade on his shoulder, knowing he should head back to the Circus.

((You're welcome to show up in the Cirque de Vienda thread whenever you wish. ))

"As good sir wishes!" Ariel bowed galantly, but the gesture was only half as serious as it seemed. You don't have to repay/pay/do me a favour was her favourite sentence. With her low income this was even more welcome. And what's more, she really enjoyed a real talk with someone.

"Oes," she smiled. Keeping an eye on her won't be a hard task. Blending in with colorfoul clothes, wide range of hair colour and skin tone of other people was almost impossible for her.

A soft, low growl came from her stomach, accompanied with almost unsignificant pain.

"Oh, looks like it's time for a meal," Ariel put palm on her belly. "See you in the Circus then."
Taking her belongings, she waved to him and turned in the direction of a nearest tavern.

((Thanks ˇ. I hope I won't get lost in all other replays .)