MyCatGinger

Letters From Home

I like the future as an idea. There the imagination is not limited in the slightest.
...but then there's one side of me that's screaming "Steampunk!" And that particular side also wishes to follow the side-story of a female engineer called Tabitha who is subject to a lot of sexism in the time because she's, well, female, and uh, an engineer. Just one character among many, many possible ones.
And then there's the complacent side that goes "Whatever the crowd says will go!"

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

The walk through the town seemed a leisurely one on first glance, though Corinne's eyes made the occasional rounds and checked the surroundings again and again. The invasion from the night before had left a sour taste in her mouth, and she'd rely on every last hunter instinct to be able to predict if another one was upon them. Apart from that, whatever little damage was done seemed not to have come to this part of town, where she walked into with her uncle and half-elf. The blacksmith's forge seemed undisturbed, and she found herself biting her lip and breathing a word of gratitude under her lips.
...she didn't know what she'd do if...
No!

"Julia...I see. Welcome to our hometown, Julia. Welcome, welcome. We don't often expect a half to pass by or even stay a spell. But they do, and they're rather interesting, and unique in personality, beyond the stereotypes I remembered growing up with at one point in time. They're rather much more than that." Corinne smiled a waning smile as she looked over at her uncle fondly. He was a half. But she didn't hate him, not in the slightest. Her mother didn't either, but some members of her father's family couldn't stand the thought and noses were upturned at how unholy it was to send their elven daughter to live with a half.
It was a good decision...for the majority of the time. "The pleasure is all ours."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful lass." grinned the half-elf walking steady with the horse's strides, throwing glances towards the red-haired maiden time and again, and it made Corinne roll her eyes rather exaggeratedly. Good old uncle Seb. "Welcome to Estermere, and a drinking partner, my luck be damned! As for my favourite... As adventurous as I might be prodded into being, nothing ever does the same for me as a good ale. I'd breathe the stuff, 'f I could."
Corinne's eyebrow rose, and she threw her gaze over to Julia, shaking her head rather sorrowfully though no words came out, and she hoped she'd pick up on the implication. Though, of course, when something is that vague...

"Morning, evening, any time is ale time." the man chuckled now, "But a traveller treating me to a drink? By the name of Vaudrey-" he paused abruptly here, though only for a handful of seconds, as if hesitating, though he continued same as usual in the next instant "By the name of my father, I, Sebastian Vaudrey, swear not to let a traveller spend on good liquor. I must treat you to a drink, my lady. It would only be fair. You should spend your coin wisely, the roads can be rather harsh mistresses."

And Corinne watched him, and he seemed happy, like he always does when socialising. The man was a social butterfly above anything else, that came to life when a good conversational partner made themselves apparent. She'd only just wondered though...like she had time and time again before, why he still lived all by himself. Why he himself never found a woman and started his own family. It wasn't like he was ridiculously old, or senile, and wouldn't be for a long time. Compared to her estimated 18 years of age in human years, her uncle surpassed her at being in his mid-late 40s. His blood made him age differently than she did, though a couple of white hairs did spring from his chocolate mess, and it didn't particularly bother her until she really thought about it.
Whenever she'd asked, he'd always say that it was to keep his little Corinne the most important girl in his life. And though he had his moments, he really loved his niece.
That much was very, very true.
She was about to add a comment about her own preferences, hinting at how she much preferred finer fruit wines, before the topic of the blacksmith was raised. Corinne took the opportunity to really look at the girl's sword, and she was right. A smithy's touch was all it needed.
And the slight flush at her cheeks brought out the colour of her hair.
The blacksmith's forge approached, and in hardly any time, they had made their way there. Corinne felt a little regretful she hadn't insisted the girl's baggage come with Lysander, though she seemed just fine keeping it with herself, and the last thing Corinne wanted to do was invade anyone's privacy and overstay her welcome, so to speak.

"Kindness is kindness' own reward, as strange as it may seem." and here she laughed, a soft, lilting sound, "Gods above, if ever a fateful day comes when our assistance is required of you, my lady, I believe you would do the same. No physical reward needed at all, really."
She shot a look at her uncle, who held his hands up in front of him innocently, which made her sigh heavily and continue "...though if you do ever take my uncle drinking, please, for the love of every last god, make sure he knows when to stop. Thank...you."
She bit her lip a little when the horse was brought to a stop near the forge, and a familiar location too.
Lysander whinnied, which brought on some soft cooing from her.

"Cherry, I know...I know."

"...but we're here, ah. And a fine destination, too, the forge."

Corinne had just noticed the man inside, Rowan, and she raised her hand in an attempt to give him a half-wave. It wasn't like she was expecting to see Benjamin or anything...hmph.
Her uncle however excused himself from the two and stepped closer to the man with the greying hair, beaming and exchanging pleasantries, that might have distracted him from his work for just a little bit, but Sebastian meant no harm. "Rowan, working on the finest, newest project ever I see. How have you been? Corinne might have come to see Benny, but it's always nice to see you around too."

At this time, as the elf was dismounting, a bright flash struck the sky in plain daylight, and she almost lost her footing with one foot being this close to catching in the stirrups. Though she landed just fine, fortunately, if a bit shaky, and did up the stallion at the nearest post. She then walked over to the girl with the bright red hair, extending a hand and giving her a proper smile. It was different looking at her from eye-level. Somehow she just seemed...bigger than Corinne. But she was beautiful, and she had to give her that. Halfs really did tend to get the best of both parents. Careful blue eyes took in the girl from the closer angle now.
"Finally, a proper introduction, Julia. I plan on sitting here a spell, waiting for someone, but the tavern should be..." her gaze left the girl to search out the surroundings, and as always, as unmissable as possible by being the most ordinary seeming building in the area.
"...ah yes. There." her eyes lit up. "The Den, for short. I cannot think if I've called it anything but that...but if I am not mistaken, it is properly known as 'The Hunters' Den'. I...would advise for you to watch yourself there. The crowd mayhaps might...be a little bothersome."

Her eyes fell to Rowan. Squinted. Then eyebrows raised in that way they do. "Rowan, you don't seem to be working with anything like that but...did you see that flash of light just now? I'd think it rather strange!"

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

FINALLY, GOD. POSTING IS NOW IN SESSION.
Really, what was that horrid evil from hell.

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

Corinne and her uncle were just about leaving the scene when the girl caught the sound of someone calling out, and noticed a figure with flaming red hair hurrying towards them. Corinne stayed her horse, who sniffed a little and turned his head in her direction as she made her way closer. He wasn't wary of her, her presence was written off as a non-malevolent one initially, and the calm of her horse reassured the elven woman, who ran her fingers through the dark hair of his mane and returned the woman's smile. Her uncle's ears pointed as well, and he turned to notice the youth. He looked her over once or twice. She was new to Estermere, he could gauge. He'd never seen her before.

"Oh, hello there." Corinne nodded warmly at the lady, having to look down at her from her position up on her horse. "...I do apologise sincerely about this tavern, it's one of the better ones in the area if you might like to believe it. It also happens to be where the more friendly of the townsfolk gather come evening. My uncle and I were just there the evening before, yet a series of unfortunate events made it a little less than absolutely desirable at this current point in time."
She paused, barely thrown off the ball for too long, before her sentence continued with a pair of twinkling blue-green eyes in the light. Maybe it was the sunlight. Though perhaps it was the fully elven glow about them.
"Actually, my uncle here and I are heading to the local blacksmith..." and as the words were spoken, Corinne's eyes went to the young woman's sword. Though they didn't linger for very long, she'd initially dismissed her frame as being not the hardiest with it. But she must carry it around for a reason, "You should be able to find the second biggest tavern in the area there, you cannot miss it. Come, let's walk together." she smiled now, sitting a little more upright on her horse. She was surprised Uncle Seb hadn't had his input yet, bu-

"Why, hello, young lady." the half-elven man chuckled, the residue of ale very, very faint but still present on his lips, "If you're planning on keeping up with us, at least let Lysander take your baggage. It seems like an unfortunate lot for a poor soul to be carrying." and Corinne found herself shuddering at the thought of lugging around so much. She wasn't the hardiest in frame. But that's where Lysander made up for what she lacked. He was a drafting horse after all, best specialised to carrying heavy loads. During their hunts, he was hardly ever used for the 'stealthy pursuit' of prey, but moreso the lugging them back if ever Shork had too much on his hands.
The initial few times he absolutely refused. But Lysander got used to it.
"He's quite right," Corinne added, punctuated by another little snort from the stallion, "I'm sure Cherry here wouldn't mind the extra load. Would you?"
And the horse snorted again, though showed no other signs of displeasure.

"My name is Sebastian, miss." her uncle added with a little bow, curious grey eyes twinkling and him running a hand through his messy hair in an attempt to smooth it out. He might have been much older than her, but he still made it a point to look suave for the ladies. And with his half-elven bloodline, it wasn't too difficult a feat. You could tell Corinne wasn't his daughter by a long-shot. She was more her father's girl, though she had her mother's face in the way it lifted and curved, and how the tips of her ears stuck out through the poker-straight curtains of auburn hair. She pushed her own fringe back, in vain however.
"And I'm Corinne. Come..." she almost purred as the clacking of hooves against the cobblestone continued a little bit on, "You...you're elven somehow, yes? But...not quite. You remind me a lot of my uncle. A half-elf, are you not? Where do you hail from?"
And her words held no spite. In fact, there was a warmth about them, an almost piteous warmth. She'd assumed being a half-elf was hard as is. Her uncle had always been a strong man, and used the best of both sides of his human and elven bloodline, but in the end everyone breaks down and finds solace.
His was in alcohol.

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

Yes, Corinne's tasks involve leading the lovely little lady to the closest Tavern, which happens to be not very far from the Smithy, where her uncle will make some crack about her having the hots for Ben which she will deny wholeheartedly, and making off with the horse, and she'll find herself there, and in her beloved's arms.
And during the journey there, she learns more about our little half-elf, fun!
I'll make a good, solid note of how her features are more prominent than the girl's, though, since she's a full-blooded elf. More sticky-outy ears, and higher cheekbones and those catlike eyes.

And if ever she wears nice, formal gowns, the little birthmark she despises so on her collar-bone.
...what's the story behind that anyway, I wonder.

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

Vec said
*silently walks to a corner and slashes his wrists, crying*

TRAFGUY PLS. ;; PLS NO. PLS ILY
It'll be an interesting development if he crashes the wedding.
...or if he's hooked up with the hot new redhead on the block, hehehe...
Or he'll end up with Corinne, super cute and stuffs, and Elric will get the redhead, and heirs for all, and somehow Tirarian - Shork are shipped and so are the fourteen year old and the lovely goblin.
Huzzah! Matchmaking skills are brilliant!

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

The evening was a hazy one. Perhaps the alcohol really had gotten to Corinne's head. She wasn't an avid drinker, so knowing her limits would have been...an interesting question to pose to the elf who somehow found herself in her bed the next morning, dishevelled and surprisingly well rested, though still half-asleep as morning's light crept in through the windows of her room in her uncle's house and she groaned into the pillow and turned over.
Half an hour passed before she managed to wake herself up again, and get a proper look of herself.
Good gods in heaven above...
She cleaned herself up, showered for just a little under forty-five glorious minutes of cleansing her soul as well as her mind and body of the after-effects of last night, and trying to recollect thought.
Trafalgar had taken her home. Thank goodness. She might just have been incoherent enough to make it there herself. Her house was close to Elric's though. Closer than Shork's, which could have served an alternative. She had no idea where he was though.
...if he did anything as similar to hiding the keys to the front door under a mound of dirt outside the comfortable shack, she'd be damned.

---

Morning went by with another little list of tasks. She was to fetch her uncle, and check the commission list for hunted meats or goods the people of Estermere had requested of her, find Shork, pair up with Shork, and go out and get them, then sell them, then split the money.
She wobbled a little when she made her way down the stairs, and she wondered just how she managed to throw herself up them the night before, to be greeted by a worried neigh, followed by a relieved whinny from the little makeshift stable her uncle had built when she was littler. It only had about three stalls, though one of them had a particular stallion gazing intently in her direction. She ducked back into the house and snagged a green apple from the kitchen before making her way outside again. The light caught on the hood she wore, though she'd swapped the blouse and breeches for another pair, a delicate mint string-shirt atop dark breeches now with the chestnut boots in check. She'd do the washing the day after, since it was one of the days where she was scheduled to wash, anyway. And on those days, hunting was left primarily to Shork, and she'd spend time at home finishing off chores, or spending whatever little time she could with her uncle, if he hadn't used his free-time to resort and retreat back to his liquor stores.
The front door was locked and double-checked. She'd be damned if those...things came.
She knew their names, but they were still so horribly foreign to her. She'd hardly seen any in her life.
Little did she know a whole pack existed under her nose. Right there in lovely Estermere.

Regardless, those thoughts were pushed to the side, and the stall door swung open, and her using the handy dagger at her hip to cut through the apple, offering one half to the horse who greedily snatched it from her palm, and biting into the other half herself. Breakfast was usually on the fly. Lunch was her favourite meal. Dinner, she usually spent at a very quiet table with her uncle.
Saddling up the stallion after a quick currying session was no trouble at all, and he gleamed as gorgeous a red as he did on any day and in any light as she pulled herself up and on top of him, and trotted off the soft, earthy surrounding land near the quaint house her uncle owned, and onto cobblestone paths again to make her way to the Hippogriff, or what was left of it. She was convinced she'd find Uncle Seb on the way there.
...and she did, but not very far from the location at all. In the time she'd taken to get up, dressed, complete basic chores and checks, curry the horse and get going, he'd gotten up, stretched, assessed the situation, and now looked at her with those easygoing deep grey eyes.
They were the same as her mother's. There was an amazing intensity about them. She'd gotten her father's hazel ones, with flecks of greys and greens from her mother's side. Nothing less, but sometimes she did find herself a little envious.
He reminded her so much of her mother, with his human father and her elven one being such contrasts, it was hard to tell they were half-siblings at all.
The half-elf's human side shone through. His stubble only just started to manifest itself, a deep brown like the messy scruff of hair that started to grow again, creeping down the nape of his neck.
"Uncle, you..."
"I know, Corinne."
"...but it is not right, in any way, for you to be inebriated like that. It...I was worried about you."
"I'm here, aren't I, little Corinne?" he gave her a lazy smirk. He was a terribly charming man, and she couldn't deny it. It's why she let him off the hook time and again.
"...you are. The tavern is a mess."
"I know. What happened last night? I don't remember...it's all very hazy."
"There was an attack by some rabid dog-like creatures."
"Gnolls."
"...is that what they're called again?"
"You've seen them before."
"No...no I haven't". Corinne thought back. Maybe...maybe she had.
"I know you have. We coexist. Come, let's go home."
And he took one of the elf's hands and gave it a squeeze, before proceeding to walk the cobblestone path again, back to their little house. The elf followed with a relieved sigh. At least Uncle Sebastian was okay.
...at least he was okay.

Though something rather curious played on the elf's mind as they made their way back slowly...
And Corinne was half in the mind to stop and ask a certain blacksmith's son about a certain rumour about a certain ring she remembered having heard, that day...

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

I'm actually going to make my post now.
Retrieving a now-sober and adorably innocent uncle from a tavern has never been more fun.

As for long term plans, Wyvern (Jolly good on you calling the shots, by the way), I don't know. I'd like to see Corinne married, perhaps sometime in the plot long-term, to BENNY BOY BECAUSE HE'S HER PRIMARY LOVE INTEREST, Y'KNOW.
Or she can totally do a 180 and go lesbian for Jules.
...no? No...aw. But you'll find her where Shork is, so give us something to do as a duo, and you'll have our undivided attentions!
...mine at least. << Shork is a meanie.
But yes. Welcome abroad, newcomers! Welcome abroad, and enjoy your stay!

Letters From Home

Link us. Might be interested!

Estermere - A Medieval Fantasy Roleplay

It's crazy unfortunate the school year has come about and swooped me up like a tornado after my blood.
BLOOD, I SAY.
...but I'm still here, I really am. I'm just afraid to make my character do anything, because I can't guarantee I'll be able to get back ASAP to the person who had interacted with her.
Also Julia and Corinne can be such good friends, eek! Red-headed elven women! But hers is a lot...darker. Auburn, ish.
...err. That is all, I suppose? No, I haven't poofed, but I'm still here. Trying to get things in check.
SORRY VEC. :C
Toodles, lovelies!