fair of voice and nimble of finger

“Do you think so? It’s taken a bit of getting used to but I quite like it as well. Though I think I will let it grow long once more.”

“My drastic change in hairstyle aside, how fare you as of late, Akaela Uri? Many more of us have gathered here, as you may have seen by now.”

     ♪ ❝ Really? Hmm... Did you just feel like cutting it on impulse, then? ❞ she can’t help but ask as she hums in thought, standing back up properly.

     ❝ One of these days... You’re going to call me by my first name only; you’ll see. Oh! But I’ve been alright... ❞ she trails off for a moment, looking thoughtful once more.

quiet and a little awkward, but she’s really a nice girl! she’s really not shy by any means

she’s spent most of her life wandering from place to place and as a result, she knows a fair bit about many towns, places and people

… however, she lacks etiquette and tact at times as a result of being alone more often than not. Along with this, her expression is normally stoic so it can be hard to tell if she’s joking or not a lot

(she’s actually kind of really weird)

before becoming a bard proper, Akaela often practiced many instruments in her spare time, writing her own songs and singing them to others on her travels

do not make her mad because she will glare at you and it will make you die

“when your party is dying but you’re just a bard”

“And I see you have found your way back once again. I would offer a warm welcome, but this city isn’t exactly the place any of us want to be.”

     ♪ ❝ Somehow, by some mira-- ❞

     ❝ Oh! Your hair...! ❞ looking uncharacteristically surprised, the blonde soon leans in, tilting her frame from side to side in order to examine her friend.

❝ What kind of treats are you thinking? I’m.. not the best at cooking, but baking might be another story. I’m willing to give it a shot. Besides, cooking’s always fun with others, or so I’ve heard. ❞

Hopefully she won’t wreck the kitchen or anything – her roommates definitely wouldn’t be too happy with her. But there’s no harm in trying, right? Dorothea had accumulated a 

❝ I’d love to join you! Is there a local garden around or anything? ❞

     ♪ ❝ ... Pumpkin pie is good; I’ve only had it a handful of times before, but I have enjoyed it every time... Though I’ve never tried baking one myself, ❞ the blonde begins her answer, beginning to walk slowly. As she does so, she looks over at the brunette, tilting her head slightly as an invitation for the other woman to walk alongside her now.

     ❝ I’ve also made pumpkin tarts before, but only once... So we can try that, too, ❞

THE SEEKER

The Seeker leaves the known to discover and explore the unknown. This inner-rugged individual braves loneliness and isolation to seek out new paths. Often oppositional, this iconoclastic archetype helps us discover our uniqueness, our perspectives and our callings. Seekers are looking for something that will improve their life in some way, but in doing so they may not realize that they have a lot already inside of themselves. They embrace learning and are ambitious, and often tend to avoid the encumbrance of support from others. Needing to "do it themselves," they keep moving until they find their goal (and usually their true self too).

Shadow Side: The perfectionist. This will manifest itself in your life as the tendency to always strive to measure up to an impossible goal or to find the “right” solution. We see this shadow element in people whose main life activity is self-improvement: going from health club to health club, traveling the world, bouncing back and forth through self-improvement seminars and workshops, etc. If this sounds like you, you might wind up feeling as though you haven't really accomplished anything through a lack of commitment.

Life Goal: Search for a better way (better life) Fear: Conformity, entrapment Response to Problem: Leave it, escape it, take off Life Task: Be true to a Higher Self Personal Gifts: Autonomy, ambition, identity, expanded possibilities Personal Pitfalls: Inability to commit, chronic disappointment, alienation and loneliness

❝ Just for decoration, though? Won’t the pumpkin eventually rot or go bad? It kind of seems like a waste of food.. ❞

She brings her hand up to her face, debating. Well, it’s only for festivities, so it can’t be all that wasteful. There are far and few in between that she celebrates. Participating in events was rather fun, too – Halloween was a new concept for her. It seems.. pumpkins were pretty popular, though she wasn’t sure of its significance.

❝ I’ve had them in soups, cooked in veggie dishes.. Tarts sound tasty, but I’ve never enjoyed the seeds nor eating it raw. Shall we try it together? ❞

     ♪ ❝ … Hmm... I suppose that’s true, ❞ the Auri soon begins, mirroring the stranger’s actions as she, too, hums in thought for a moment. Since she seldom cooks or even buys food for herself, the bard knows to appreciate any and all food given to her... Yet even so, this is something not everyone lives by nor agrees with, and this is made even more clear by how the pumpkins seem to be mostly decorative in nature.

     ❝ For mine, though, I will be sure to use it after the holidays to make some treats, ❞ offering a small nod to herself, the golden gaze of the blonde now looks back at the stranger with a small smile.

          EVERY SWING WAS CALCULATED, every blow laden with finesse and strength, but beneath the assault whispered a rage; a resentment. Stolen away from his purpose without rhyme nor reason, left to fend with little more than a pathetic shadow of his own weapon. This sad thing scarcely boasted the weight not true power of his true blade, he could hear its integrity waning with each strike he laid relentlessly upon the tree before him. Isolating himself from the rest of this strange world, Felix sought his solitude amid nature, where none but the chirps of birds or gentle caress if the wind may disturb him.

            ❝  Haa–!  ❞ he brought down his wooden sword against the bark with a fierce cry, weighted by his frustrations as it clashed with the flank of the tree.

       A heavy CRUNCH resounded in the silence; his weapon splintered against the tree, spitting shards of wood and bark into the grass at his feet. Taking a step back and huffing his breaths, Felix lowered his eyes to note the shadow of what was already a pathetic excuse for a sword, and his brow furrowed deeply.

            ❝  Useless—!  ❞

       He faltered, his focus stolen away by the voice at his back, and once acknowledging the stranger, his expression curdled yet again, shifting his gaze back to the tree almost sullenly.

            ❝  … I don’t remember asking.  ❞ 

     ♪ To match the deepened scowl on his face, the stranger spits back an answer that would surely be off-putting to most other people. While the blonde is certainly a little bit surprised by the bite to the stranger’s words, she simply treats it akin to water rolling off her back. While she’s not accepting of his behaviour, it is something she has encountered more than a handful of times and as a result, doesn’t feel too bothered by the other and his attitude (just yet, in any case).

     ❝ … It’s not just you; most people that have been put here have had their weapons and items replaced, ❞ the bard starts gently, taking out her basic harp to give it a few strums before securing it to her back once more.

     ❝ Still, I’m pretty surprised you broke that replica so quickly and easily, ❞ the Auri continues, pointing a gloved index finger to the shattered wooden blade he firmly grasps within his fist.