Friendly Visit|Neo'anar | New Anarlina

[Darastrix]

Zira approached the palace near sunset. He'd been home recently, visiting his mother and his new, blessedly normal brother, and opening his shop a bit. Teleporting between Talen'sul and Anarlina was still a somewhat disorienting experience, but he figured it, like other things, would become easier with practice.

"Excuse me," he said to the guard on duty, "Would it be possible for me to visit someone here? Ah...his name is Kleio," Zira added, unsure whether the guard would know the man.

[Kender Bard]

The guard cocked his head a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I think I saw Kleio around. He's probably in his workroom." The guard provided directions to the place - it was near the market district, as Kleio sold most of his artwork to the general public as well as the royal family.

[Darastrix]

"Thank you," the young noble replied, inclining his head slightly. He briefly entertained the thought of teleporting to the workroom, but quickly vetoed the idea. He'd never seen the place, after all. Just his luck he'd land right in the middle of someone else's home.

Zira found the shop without too much trouble and tapped lightly at the door. "Kleio?"

[Kender Bard]

"One moment!" Kleio called out, coming out while cleaning off his hands on a caked and filthy rag. "Oh! Sir Zira!" Smiling, he bowed deeply. "Please, take a seat and let me know what I owe the pleasure of this visit to."

[Darastrix]

"Just Zira, please," he said, taking a seat. "And, well, I...I just wanted to see you again," he murmured as one hand smoothed his feathers.

An eloquent conversationalist, I am not, he thought ruefully.

[Kender Bard]

Kleio's expression never changed as he replied, more quietly, "Oh, my." Grinning slowly, he sat down in a nearby seat and attempted to brush off bits of clay from his work clothes. "My, I must say, this is an honor indeed. It is a pleasure to see you again too. How have things been in your kingdom?"

[Darastrix]

"Well. Very well, actually," Zira said, continuing to smooth the already immaculate feathers as his face turned slightly pink for some inexplicable reason. "I have a brother now, thank Efil." He smiled softly. "Mother is very happy."

[Kender Bard]

"That's marvelous news!" Kleio exclaimed with a slight clap of his hands. "I pray Love and Efil grace your house with continued good fortune. What is the child's name?"

[Darastrix]

"Tristan Angelo Fell," Zira said, "Though I'm sure the second name will only be used when he starts getting into trouble. My own is seldom ever used."

[Kender Bard]

Kleio giggled quietly. "Well, here's hoping he grows to be every bit as handsome as his big brother." Slyly, he winked at Zira, but swiftly rose and headed towards a back room. "Would you like any sort of refreshment?"

[Darastrix]

Zira flushed brightly at that, not used to being complemented in such a way, especially by an attractive man. "Ah, um, yes please. Just no alcohol; it goes straight to my head."

[Kender Bard]

"I understand," Kleio laughed quietly, coming back with a tall glass of some amber liquid. "Here, try some of this fruit concoction. I forget precisely what's in it, but it's heavenly. I'd call it ambrosia if I hadn't tasted some of the stuff the royal family drinks." Taking his own glass, he settled back down and studied Zira with a thoughtful gaze, sipping his glass.

"Is there anything you'd like to do on this fine evening, Zira?" Kleio asked. He seemed as unsure as Zira on how to proceed, but was eager to please.

[Darastrix]

"Would you like to go for a walk? It's shaping up to be a lovely night," Zira said, taking a sip of his drink. "Oh, this is good. I don't think I've had anything quite like it."

[Kender Bard]

"Take it with you if you like," Kleio offered as he drained his glass quickly. "I'll just change out of these mud clothes and we'll be off. The gardens are most beautiful this time of night." Humming under his breath, Kleio hastily left to the back room and climbed up to an attic space where he kept his spare clothes, changing swiftly and dousing his hair with water to clean it. He returned, damp but clean, idly scrubbing off a stubborn spot with his finger dripping water. "Well, I'm ready when you are."

[Darastrix]

Zira finished his drink and fussed a bit with his robes while he waited, not that they were in any state of disarray. At Kleio's return, he rose gracefully from his seat. "I'm ready now," he said, tucking a lock of hair behind one ear.