#threads: bathing in the bargain bin

[mourningcomess]

It's unusual for Ishtar to venture too far from the abyss. Her internal alarm system has already registered that far too many from Jugdral are here. Not that she's feeling particularly bad about herself, mind you, but she'd rather soak in the darkness of the Abyss than face others' anger and frustration. The whole thing Ishtar feels is a general numbness about herself and her actions, running through her whole body like a slow, debilitating river.

Perhaps that's why she decides to leave for a change. The numbness is all-consuming, choking even, and it frustrates Ishtar that anything should control her. She needs to feel something. Anything. Well, it's not as if she's particularly well-versed in the monastery by now. Or if she even has a preferred dwelling spot. She simply is here, the academy being some sort of cage.

Ishtar stops in the marketplace, but glassy violet eyes take no interest. In her past life, she had all the riches and glamour at her disposal. Now, she desires nothing. She eyes the area slowly, but casually shopping students and faculty only serve to irritate. That is when Ishtar notices a familiar face out of the corner - one who stands out, nonetheless. The princess merely watches for a moment, but Sonya is far too keen to only be watched, turning around and matching her gaze.

"Nothing special," Ishtar says, arms folded, and tapping her fingers against an arm. 

"I'm hardly so delicate," the princess continues. "Yet what are you here for?" It interested her far more than topics of herself. The mage's gaze turned to the stall beside Sonya. 

"Looking for dresses?"

bathing in the bargain bin

non-mission task: excavation (heavy armor+1)

[excalitress]

In retrospect, the mage should be relieved she didn’t doll herself up any further considering how the ball’s skies chose to greet her. But on the contrary…if she were caught going to a formal event without appropriate attire again, she may never forgive herself.

That is the reason why Sonya graces the surface with her face in the middle of the day, as sneaking up at night would leave the stores closed and a sad shopper. She may be late to pick up a proper dress, but the ball season is thinning out only now. Unless this place has its trends change as easily as the wind blows, there’s sure to be some sale on decent garbs.

She enters the marketplace in her everyday attire, deciding that this gear is less likely to pick up unwanted eyes out of the two. Still, Sonya roams the sides of streets just in case. It serves as a good perch as well, both for the shops currently open at a glance and…anything else that stands out. Traversing the undesired corners of towns has gotten Sonya accustomed to calling out suspicious figures, even if not actively searching for them.

And the figure that the mage notices from the corner of her gaze is not suspicious per say…but peculiar nonetheless.

“Why, to what do I owe the pleasure, Ishtar?” Sonya saves her speech until after she’s cloaked in the small shadows alongside the other. “I suspected you resided near the monastery…but to see you again so soon?”

She smirks in delight, clapping hands together. “A true pleasure! But…any reason we’re keeping to the shade? The sun isn’t that damaging to your skin, is it?”

@mourningcomess

bathing in the bargain bin

non-mission task: excavation (heavy armor+1)

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[excalitress]

Even the way the lady of lighter hair carries herself through hand motion feels reserved yet wary. Matching of one who commits to the darkness in the midst of a crowded location in spite of their inherent beauty. But of course, Sonya is not someone who can judge. She is hiding in here just the same.

The tapping at her arm is evidence enough that Ishtar would much rather take the attention off of herself. “Forgive me for the assumption. I should expect more from ladies like us,” Sonya states genuinely, dropping her clasped hands and returning them to her sides.

That’s fine. Sonya did not crawl out of the underground purely to bother an innocent girl. She can simply find ways to wring out information of interest bit by bit, her own way.

To start, the wind mage has her right hand sail in front of her face and cups at her mouth in partial surprise. “Did I make my pursuits that obvious? Or could it be…you remembered my wish at the party the other night?! How kind!”

No matter the reason, Ishtar has already weaseled out Sonya’s primary goal of the afternoon. It wouldn’t make sense to not give the hidden woman the most natural offer then.

“I could use a lady used to regal cloth for the best decisions,” Sonya mulls, repositioning her hand from chin to cheek. “Or is that stall too far from the shadows for you?”

bathing in the bargain bin

non-mission task: excavation (heavy armor+1)