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Post by Lucca on Oct 27, 2009 8:30:35 GMT -5
 Getting off of work was always a lovely, refreshing feeling nowadays, but especially on pay day, when the week's earnings were safely stowed in the messenger bag around his shoulder, a smile was firmly planted on his beak, and there was a skip in his step as he headed back to the modest, but comfortable and stylish, apartment he called home. Ever since getting the Rank of Ten and moving to the Capital, the Cardinal had seen a wonderful spike in his mood. Not that he didn't miss the Villa sometimes, but he could still fly there on his days off, well if he didn't have a date with his girlfriend that is. Ah! Yes, he was very satisfied with his life right at this moment. He whistled a catchy little tune, one of those that he'd played that night at the piano bar he worked at currently. It was very nice to have a job where he didn't have to report to his Mom. He loved her to death, but come on! He was more than happy to be supporting himself doing what he loved. A small Tove that matched the colors of his feathers quite nicely was curled around his shoulders, ears twitching as he looked up at the stars that were just beginning to come out. It was very different here in the Capital from anything he'd ever known, but as long as he was with his Master, he was happy.  |
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Post by Esfiel on Oct 28, 2009 4:17:26 GMT -5
Some people found work as servants or other jobs that they disliked (although granted, she was sure some actually enjoyed being servants. Like those Kahmden people, but they were just weird.) Others found it doing what they loved. Aima found herself mostly doing what she loved, but her main work was not currently bringing her in a lot of money. The majority of her income came from odd jobs or one time services that she hunted for at the Capital and Corvistowne. There was always some test she could donate herself for in Corvistowne (and she was willing, if it didn't interfere with her work), but the Capital had bigger variety. They weren't as nosy, either, although she couldn't exactly say the same for herself... Today, for example, she couldn't afford to keep to herself. She was on a quest! Well, not really a quest.. more like hunting. Yes, hunting! She liked the sound of that more. She was hunting.. for a job. What she needed was a kind soul who couldn't, hopefully, turn her down flat and might be willing to help. The little pine marten was good at all sorts of things when she put her mind to it, especially if it didn't involve instantaneous common sense. To be sure, she had common sense, it just didn't always work. Then she saw the Cardinal, who seemed to be having a splendid day. She even thought she could detect a jump in his step. Perfect! He was even a Spade! Maybe he'd be more willing to help a fellow Spade. Her vision narrowed on the small Tove wrapped about his shoulder, springing an idea in her head. With a deep breath first, she dashed over to him. "Oh, sir! I apologize for coming out of no where, but I couldn't help but tell you this directly... Your Tove is just so stunning!" |
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Post by Lucca on Oct 28, 2009 18:35:49 GMT -5
The Cardinal gave a small jump of surprise as one minute, his path was clear, and the next, a Corvistowne native whose black coat was spattered with electric blue was suddenly right in front of him. Quickly recovering himself, the Cardinal allowed a polite smile to grace his beak as he looked her over. She had some...oddities...that made him want to repress a shudder, and he was fairly wary of Corvies. Or at least, he had been before one who was colored rather similarly to this pine martin had assisted him in bringing an utter ruffian to justice.
Recalling his friend, on top of the fact that he was in a good mood, actually made him much more willing to converse with this newcomer, for all that she'd appeared so suddenly. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, good day to you, too." He smiled more widely at the compliment and reached up a wing to pat the Tove affectionately. He chirred in pleasure. "Why thank you, he is quite the lovely specimen is he not? I've dubbed him Arpeggio and he's quite the charmer." Arpeggio chirped his agreement, small ears wiggling.
The Cardinal turned back to regard her curiously. "My name is Colin, by the way," he said, with a polite bow. "And fear not, your apology is accepted, Miss...?" He waited for her to give her name, trying not to look at the odd tubes coming out of her hindquarters.
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Post by Esfiel on Oct 28, 2009 22:19:21 GMT -5
The martin failed to notice his gaze falling on her many non-organic additions. When you were a Corvie you just got used to it to the point where you no longer noticed it, not that she had ever taken offence anyway. Everything on her was something she was proud of.
She laughed softly as the Tove chirped and wiggled his ears. She liked it already. She also liked how its coat was the same colors as Colin's, or close enough to. Was it always that way? She wasn't sure. She hadn't seen too many Toves. "I'm Aima, and it's a pleasure to meet you and Arpeggio!" Pausing only a moment, she went on. "Arpeggio has something to do with music, doesn't it? Are you a musician?" Music had never fascinated her as it had others, but she still respected it and enjoyed listening to it. As long as no one expected her to pick up an instrument, anyway.
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Post by Lucca on Oct 28, 2009 22:32:15 GMT -5
The Tove chirped curiously at Aima, twisting his head a bit to see her better. Colin smiled and gave a small bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Aima," he said, but then he couldn't help but blink in genuine surprise at her next question. He got questions on what intruments he played or favored, whether he sang...but the question of whether or not he was musciean genuinely shocked him. It was almost like...
"Have you never met many Villas in your life?" After blurting this, Colin flushed slightly red under his feathers, realizing it sounded rather rude. "Er, sorry for my bluntness, but you see, most of those from my region have some sort of musical talent, and I am among them in that. I play the piano, and an arpeggio, in musical terms, is simply when the notes of a chord are played in succession instead of simultaneously." He smiled, hoping this was a good explanation. Though he had stopped walking, he was hopping from on foot to the other: an unconscious habit when he was heading somewhere, even though he didn't have any reason to hurry.
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Post by Esfiel on Oct 28, 2009 23:47:36 GMT -5
Oh, oops. Aima knew how silly her question must have sounded. It was ridiculously easy to spot someone from Villa en Miir, what with those elegant script-like markings all over them. She noticed the minor reddening and couldn't help it when the corner of her mouth curled up in an suppressed smile. Someone in the Capital who got embarassed after being slightly rude, imagine that. She wondered vaguely if he lived in the Capital and if so, for how long.
"I've seen Villas, but I've never actually gone up and talk to one... like I just did that to you." She smiled slightly, as to say she would be embarassed, but such an emotion did not come often. She blamed it on the fact that she was a Corvie rather than any deficiency in shame, pride, or honor. She shoved those who would say otherwise out of her mind.
Instead she focused on his hopping from one foot to the other. Was he in a rush? Impatient? Oh, he was probably just too polite to get rid of her outright and wanted to continued onward. Jumping to conclusions would just not do, especially when the answer would be so easily achieved.
She could ask him about it.. or she could continue on with her plan. "That doesn't sound like an easy task, to play an arpeggio, and the piano! Do you play it professionally?" Feed his esteem, make him like her, then maybe he would be willing to help her. She had to admit (maybe to make herself just feel better about what she was doing) that she really did like his little Tove. She enjoyed talking to him, also. There was something odd that amused her about him, but she couldn't quite place it.
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Post by Lucca on Oct 29, 2009 19:53:00 GMT -5
"Ah, I see. Well, I hope I give a good impression of our noble Realm, then," he offered with a smile. He was gratified that far from seeming angry, she even seemed a bit ashamed of her mistake herself, if that small, shy smile was any indicator! Not that he would fault her. Even though her Realm bordered his, he knew that there might as well be an ocean between them for how often most residents traveled between them.
Colin perked up a bit at the compliment, chest puffing out just slightly. Though he also chuckled. "An arpeggio is not difficult to play," he said, stroking his Tove again with a wing. His nervous habit actually stopped as they were now speaking of matters he was always willing to talk about: music. "The piano, however, took me many years of practice, since all I had to work with were these..." He wiggled one clawed foot. "But yes, I do play it professionally, and have for a number of years now. In the Villa before, but now, here in the Capital, I play at various establishments around town. I also compose my own pieces, sometimes." He smiled hopefully, waiting for Aima's reaction. The Pine Martin would find Colin was very susceptible to flattery indeed, and she was going quite the right way to ply him towards helping her out.
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Post by Esfiel on Oct 30, 2009 18:43:02 GMT -5
"My goodness!" Aima exclaimed upon hearing all this, her eyes wide with awe. "Various establishments! You must be very accomplished! Even composing your own pieces." She shook her head in amazement, as though not quite believing she was meeting someone of such note. After she smiled at him. Various establishments meant that he must have connections! How lucky that they should cross paths, though by now she was thinking she should probably do something for him. Maybe remove some of his blood so that he could function without it? The music business was a risky industry, wasn't it? Well, maybe not that bad. No, he probably would never agree to such a thing and probably be freaked out after she offered.
"You must let me hear you play!" she insisted then, on the verge of becoming a fan. She was rather curious how well someone could play the piano with two clawed feet, but after many years of practice, why not?
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Post by Lucca on Oct 31, 2009 10:18:26 GMT -5
Coin couldn't have grinned any wider if he tried. This was just the sort of ego stroking he'd always wanted to get from total strangers--maybe he was already becoming famous! The thought made his purple feathers puff up with pride, and his eyes held that gleam of satisfaction. Yes, he -was- accomplished, thank you very much! But he needed to be very gracious to his...fan? "Why, thank you very much. I've worked hard to get where I am, and it is lovely to hear someone who appreciates my work."
If possible, he perked up even more as she asked if she could hear him play. If only he was traveling toward work instead of away from it! But it was all right, for he had a solution. In a lovely little stroke of luck, the landlady for the apartment he lived in gave piano lessons, and therefore had a music room that she allowed limited resident access to (with permission of course) when she wasn't using it. "Actually, I can arrange that, even tonight if you would like," the Cardinal chirped happily. (And if the Corvie wanted to get him to help her in any sort of experiments, she was going the right way for it, and was about to get herself invited back to his place.) Arpeggio trilled happily. He wasn't sure what was going on exactly, but his Master was happy, and that was enough for him.
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Post by Esfiel on Nov 2, 2009 4:00:55 GMT -5
((Oh goodness, she wasn't looking for him to donate himself to science.. although now that you mention it...))
The little marten visible perked up. So soon as tonight! She had thought she was going to have to wait longer, maybe until tomorrow. Oh what luck! Things were moving along nicely. Who knew how long until she could spring her question? Maybe she should start thinking specifics. Maybe not even ask him about a job at one of the establishments. Maybe.. maybe he'd be in an experiment! They certainly got along well! She should probably wait a bit longer, though. Maybe for the second day.
Oh! Maybe she could ask for BOTH.
Perfect.
"Oh, I'd love that!" She clapped her hands together to show her enthusiasm. Even Arpeggio was happy, which just topped it all off. It would take something drastic and horrible indeed to ruin the moment. Maybe after she perfected her research she could start looking into making pianos easier to play with the feet, but then wouldn't that take away from the achievement? Hm. Maybe she'd find a different project.
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