arias-adventure

[arias-adventure]

るい

[arias-adventure]

Aria  blushed, a pang of hurt striking her heart at the mention of her parents. She didn't want to look weak by revealing that she was alone now, especially not to someone she had just met. "Well thank you, I really try hard to keep this place up. It's my home..." And the only part of my family that I have left, she thought. "Why wouldn't I take pride in it?" She beamed, thinking it was time to show Molly the rest of the town.

"The Mayor takes really good care of everything in this town, and he wouldn't stand to see me let the farm go to ruin. He helped my dad build the school, too." Aria changed the subject as she walked back to the elevator. "The whole town is beautiful, and the scenery surrounding it..." she held down a snicker, thinking of the climate-oriented locations, "is everything you could ever want."

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria peered around the large room, it was some kind of restaurant, from what she could tell, but not any place in Alvarna! She pulled off her dripping sweater just as a girl entered from what she supposed was the kitchen, and began to talk. She discarded the sweater onto the entry mat in place of a cookie. Aria would have asked about the Aurora Festival if she could, but the girl spoke so fast that the subject had changed three times before she could even open her mouth.

Finally she silence rang in her ears after the barrage of conversation. "I-um..." Aria didn't know where to begin, "Sorry, Ann," she rolled the name carefully on her tongue, " but where am I?" Her eyebrows knitted together... is this like how her father felt when he had amnesia?

__

Accepted "Cookie" as gift! (+50 Heart Points)

Investigating the Portal ♥ Ann & Aria

Pzzzzzt! A timer in the Inn’s kitchen was going off like crazy since Ann had cookies in the oven. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” The redhead ran out of her room and straight to the oven while putting on two oven mitts so she could take out the tray of rainbow cookies. “Mmm… These smell great~! I can’t wait to share them with everyone, hehe.” Ann put the cookie sheet over the stove top and ran around the kitchen to gather some dishes. It would take a few minutes for her to move them from the tray, so she decided it’d be best to just finish cleaning things instead of going back to her room to tinker with her broken music box.

Moments later… Everything was clean and the cookies were ready to go, so she scooped some up then carefully placed them in Tupperware containers while leaving the rest on a plate. The idea was to share the cookies with any of the residents or even visitors that may drop by due to the awful weather outside. “I wonder if Kai is back yet…” she spoke out loud to herself while carrying the plate to the dining area. “Oh! Hello there!” That was rather convenient, a new visitor was here and that meant someone could taste-test her cookies right away! “Have a seat and take your time, we can get you something to eat— Wanna try some cookies that are fresh out of the oven? They’re Aurora Borealis cookies— Then again, you may not know of the Aurora Festival… Where are you from? Do you want a room for the night?” The poor girl barely even had time to put a word in since Ann just kept rambling and rambling, but she stopped herself once holding out the plate of cookies to the stranger.

"Sorry, I tend to talk a lot, I’m Ann by the way~!"

[arias-adventure]

Investigating the Portal ♥ Open

Today was the day, those stubborn lampgrass plants should finally be ripe! It had taken Aria months to grow them to perfection, and now she was headed to her personal tropical getaway to harvest them: at Blessia Island. It was a beautiful place, she always thought it'd be great for a resort, except that it's completely riddled with wild monsters. Dawning a thin sweater to keep warm on the trip, she scuttled past the local clinic toward the Sainte de Coquille square.

A peculiar purple shade adorned the fountain, who's water had turned dark and was running over the edges. What in the world had Roy done now? Him and his stupid pranks. Aria moved closer to the fountain, that should'e been completely frozen over in the first place. Before she even had a second thought about what else seemed wrong about the situation, she found herself walking through an intense storm, the fountain completely vanished.

"What?" she cried out in confusion and fear. She could barely see anything, the snow-flakes invaded her eye lashes and blurred her vision. She was freezing and wet in a matter of seconds, shivering in her summery attire masked only by a light sweater. A dim light, possibly from a house or a lantern post, caught her attention and she instinctively made her way through the blizzard toward it. The closer she got, the more she realized that she was not in Alvarna. Turns out, the light emanated from a window of a home... or a shop? A gust of wind sent the door slamming open, and another sent her tumbling inside, the door shut behind her.

[arias-adventure]

"Oh really? That doesn't surprise me one bit, you seem to get along really well with the monsters... err- animals. You have that natural aura~" Aria hoped that she hadn't noticed that little slip. She swept up some droppings into a barrel used for composting, and generally busied herself straightening up things while she listened to Molly, her cheeks dimpling with pride when she asked for her advice. 

"Well," Aria started, not exactly sure what to tell her. "My dad did most of the work here, but he started from scratch just like you~" She tapped her chin, thinking of any advice to give. "Since it's winter, there's not a lot you can really do but prepare for spring. Make repairs to any damaged buildings, stock up grain for the animals. If you're short on funds, I suggest mining. You can increase your skill and strength for the hard work on the farm, and make money by selling your finds~"

Aria itched at her nose, and swept a strand of hair behind her ear, "I've never been asked for advice before."

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria ruffled the animals' heads, making her way to the feed-shoot to get some fodder for them. She smiled, pleased that Molly was taking things so well. "Toodles, Bear, Rodger," she sounded off, "and Grubba over there seems to have taken a liking to you." She was very proud of her animals, her father and her had trained them to be very friendly.

Aria sprinkled some fresh hay over their breakfast and watched Molly pet Grubba, who usually was standoffish.

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria smiled to reassure her, "Of course it's safe, this is how I transport my animals up to get into the fields." Well, that wasn't exactly true, she usually just did a quick spell... but she would leave that for another time, if possible.She couldn't help but giggle at the thought of the rickety old thing hoisting up fat troll. "But since its winter, they mostly just stay in the barn where its dry and warm." Good cover, Aria. Good cover. She closed the wooden gate, and began to crank the handle to lower them down the shaft... the 27 floor elevator shaft.

Aria pointed at Molly, dismissing the thought, "Ding ding ding. They are indeed. Woolies are a bit smaller, and stand... or wobble, rather, upright." The elevator was enveloped in darkness as they creaked along, and then light filled it once more when they arrived at floor 2 and Aria's rambunctious  little Woolies rushed to greet the pair.

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria bit her lip, trying to hold back a charged smile. She felt honored to introduce this girl to their quite unusual reality. The heritage, lore, and lifestyle of those within Norad seem to be from an alternate universe... An era that just didn't seem to quite line up with the rest of the world. She felt relieved with Molly's response; though she could tell that she was (intelligently) frightened, she seemed open to what Aria was telling her. Which was good, and it meant that she could probably handle a few more monsters if she so desired.

"This barn is actually a lot bigger than it seems, it has several basements." Aria pointed at the rickety, manually operated elevator. If Molly was brave enough to get in that thing, then Aria was sure that she could handle at least the upper level monsters. Taking her to the lower levels was definitely off limits, though, Aria had a tough enough time as it was trying to befriend the creatures down there. 

"I think my chickens are a lot closer to the conventional ones that you might be used to, if you'd like to see those...Oh!" she corrected herself, changing her mind. "You just have to see the Woolies! They are so adorable." 

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria figured that her monsters were roughly the size of rhinoceroses, but they had been companions for her entire life, so they were no threat to her 4'10" self. "They're a primitive species, directly from the First Forest." Aria began to inform her. "They're devoid of any human intervention, and produce milk purely the way nature had intended, and share it only on a trust-built basis... In other words, they're not a breed, they're the origin of the entire bovine species."

She beamed at her monsters, watching how gentle they were with Molly. She approached the animal behind her, and stroked it's broad cheek, to which the animal responded by shoving its whole head down toward Aria. She laughed, holding the animals face with both her arms and nuzzling her cheek against it. "This here is Udon, she's the oldest here. My dad began raising her when she was just a calf." She patted the tough bristly chest of the Buffamoo, trying to gauge the girl's reaction.

She wondered if the girl would bolt into the snow-laden sunset screaming, or if maybe she would want to see the others.

"If you think they're scary, you should see some of my others," she bragged, "these guys are teddy bears."

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria nodded, bracing herself against the cold as she ventured back out into the white. She chewed her lip nervously, thinking if it were wise to bring her, but she did want to see... and she wouldn't be safer with anyone else besides Aria. She squinted at the girl, as if she could read her courage across her forehead, but no such luck. "I suppose that would be okay... I have to warn you, though, they're larger than average." She tried to choose her words very carefully. "I raise the best in town... well the only in town, but the best none the less~" She smiled, headed back toward the stone staircase. Aria took a deep breath as she approached the barn, reaching the doors before Molly, to  console her fretting monsters before letting her loose inside.

She poked her head back outside to see Molly catching up, and couldn't help the grin across her face. This was going to be so good. 

"Just remember before you go in, they're very friendly. You won't be in any danger." 

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

Aria bounded up the stairs, her heavy pack flopping against her back with each step. She flung it on her bed, and took a moment to touch her portrait of her parents before descending again. "Okiedoke~" she chimed. She collected a few items for her much smaller purse, a few health potions, a warding charm, and she sheathed two daggers onto her belt before pulling her winter coat back over the top to conceal them. Hopefully Molly hadn't taken much notice of the weapons, that also generally freaked out the outlanders.

"I'm ready now," she smiled, tugging at her coat for good measure. 

"What exactly were you looking for? Probably an Inn, to start off, right?" 

A Date for Dares | Aria and Molly

[arias-adventure]

"That's a relief," she sighed. "You know what? That's what I thought, too. Lightning. Definitely not a vase, at least." Aria put on her deducing cap. "Unless that vase hit you in the head at high speeds... like typhoon high speeds, then there's no way that flowery design would even be possible."

"Maybe you should ask your dad... I mean, you're an adult! He shouldn't lie to you."

Hay Loft ♥ @ Barrett

[arias-adventure]

Aria flinched at his flinch, "Did that hurt? I'm so sorry! I wasn't thinking." She pursed her lips sadly, feeling bad. "Of course you can put it back on." She tried not to stare at it, but the way it looked just didn't quite fit. "How did you say that you got that again? It's really kinda... pretty." 

Pretty? There she goes again.

Hay Loft ♥ @ Barrett

[arias-adventure]

"Oh, I'm sure they won't mind," Aria giggled, opting to not have that conversation with someone she just met. She smiled at the fairy tale comment, the poor girl had no idea. Aria would have to be the one to guide her in gently. "My name's Aria, and I think you're in for a treat here." she smiled as she carefully planted her feet on each stair, "Careful not to slip, the stone can be really slick in the winter." 

Reaching the bottom, Aria tromped across the lawn to her house. Shaking off her backpack, she opened the door to the warm room. She kicked the sludge of her boots and held the door open for Molly. "Welcome, welcome." She smiled, "this will only take a minute."

A Date for Dares | Open

[arias-adventure]

Aria gave a quick nod, biting her lip like she did when she was nervous. She really didn't want him to feel insecure, but she just had to see it. The zigzags of shiny flesh flowered out around his forehead in an almost beautiful design. Without even thinking, she reached over to touch his face, but pulled her hand away after her fingers brushed against his skin. "I'm sorry," she apologized, realizing how invasive that was. 

She wasn't sure what to say. "Is it hard to see?"

Hay Loft ♥ @ Barrett

[arias-adventure]

"How could you tell?" she chuckled, readjusting the straps on her shoulders. She smiled, "If you let me just drop this off, I'd be glad to bring you to the Inn. My home is just around that corner, there." She pointed at the stone wall past the barn, where you could see the roof of her home and the chimney billowing up smoke. "You're welcome to come in, or you can wait here... or inside my barn, it might be a little warmer in there. If you don't mind the buffamoo."

Aria wasn't sure if this lady was from around here or not, some of the surrounding regions were completely free of gates to the First Forest, and monsters didn't spawn there at all. Those townsfolk were always very shocked to see them, so maybe it was best not to leave her alone. 

"On second thought, you should probably come with me." She started toward her home again, "You're now entering Alvarna."

A Date for Dares | Open