kind of a downer tbh

Aphere folds her arms crossways then. While she certainly seemed of a mind to simply be on her way before, it seems like that's certainly gone out of the hypothetical window at this point. Her fee-talons rake in the pavement briefly as she 'hrrmphs' and shakes her head, gesturing at Arianne.

"If I am so impertinent, perhaps it is high time you do something to encourage my growth, lady Martinet. As you promised. There should certainly be a first time for anything, yes? So, go on. Help me with this issue of temper and rudeness that you feel I am growing into."

She tilts her head at Arianne quizzically then. She doesn't seem to be suggesting that in particularly good faith.
(Aphere)

The Martinet pauses. She lifts her head from where she had been pensive, glancing over notes and waiting for her appointment with the Hysen merchant. Arianne gives Aphere a level stare.

"I would be glad to, miss Aphere. However, I believe there is an apt saying that I will use here to convey my point.

You may lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. I do not think you wish to take care of that temper. Nor do I think you wish to take care of that rudeness, certainly not in regards to my person."

The noble Vaien closes her notebook lightly, sets it aside, and interlaces her fingers.
(Arianne Martinet)

EXP Gain: [(316*1)+0=316]
The next reboot will be in 5.5 hours.
Aphere responds pretty poorly to the stare, her beak clicking once as she returns it herself, hands balling into themselves as her legs move a singular challenging step towards the lady, with feathers raising.

"Apt saying, lady Martinet. Except you have never lead this horse anywhere at all. You cannot deny my growth, you took me in when I was weak, but how much of this strength do you honestly believe that you have cultivated? How much of your time have you bothered to spend on me, or miss Venari?"

There's a hiss into her beak as she throws on a very big frown, then.

"Only thing you've taught me is spite, lady Martinet. Yes, I am angry with you, understandably so, for I feel you remarkably negligent. But I am still here, aren't I? You have chances to change that and throw in some effort for my sake."

She wafts a talon at Arianne in dismissal afterwards, as if she already knows her answer.
(Aphere)

And Arianne remains calm in the face of Aphere's rising anger. Composed, collected. She's stood before plenty of fires before.

"I have. Or I have tried. I have tried to treat with you. Speak with you. Share drinks, learn of your family and you as a person. Bring you on my patrols and political business, so that you might learn of the nature of dealing with other factions in the hopes that, perhaps, I could have an appropriate second in command."

The Martinet likewise frowns, though it is subdued.

"I have duties. To you, yes, but to many of Nalian and abroad, and to Vaiel himself. I think that is something you have not considered."
(Arianne Martinet)

EXP Gain: [(336*1)+0=336]
Chang would be riding on camelback. Behind would be an exotic caravan of camels and pack llamas. A truly interesting affair. Once he finished getting off his camel. He would greet his future customers.


"I's Chang, the travelling merchant. I's got lots of wares this time. Hundreds. Wanna see my stock? Hehehe. Greetings, Lady Arianne. Miss Aphere."



Chang would then bow and smile at them. Waiting to unload his pack animals if needed.
(Chang)

[Having low focus can severely impact the quality of your craft!]
LOOC - Chang: (I got excited and dropped a post without reading the scene Now aphere is gonna
LOOC - Chang: beat me(
Aphere grows a little bit more furious with that answer, clearly not seeing things quite the same way as the Martinet ahead of her.

A talon is flung in a halting gesture in Chang's direction. She's raging a little, and she quickly treats him with a brief: "Not now, Chang!"

And then her attention re-settles on Arianne immediately, hissing a few words her way. "I am tired of being told to consider things from your view, lady Martinet. You and I both know you could do more. Admit it, stop dancing around it, so we can -try- to move on!"

There's another hiss afterwards, at Chang, likely just because he's here. How dare he.
(Aphere)

LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (ok aphere. brief aside here?
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (for a sec?
LOOC - Aphere: (( yeah??
LOOC - Aphere: (( you can discord me if you'd rather
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (while i'm not going to tell you how to do your ic, i do think it's a bit unfair for this, being that i can't be on in the same timezones as you, nor can i be on as often because of work and i try to rp with a variety of people
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (so this does feel a bit unfair, if i'm 100% honest
OOC - SnogGoblin: I ran away not wanting to impose on your scene
OOC - Borb: its cool, chang, i appreciate you
LOOC - Aphere: (( i ok im on backfoot a little
LOOC - Aphere: (( i wasnt coming at this from an OOC place so i hadnt actually
LOOC - Aphere: (( you know considered
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (this really seems like it kind of is, since you're calling me out for being not present icly when i physically could not be
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (but this is why i brought it up
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (cuz yknow, sometimes we don't consider these things
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (ain't nobody perfect
LOOC - Aphere: (( yeah genuinely i wasn't considering your schedule and stuff i can wrap my head around how thats
LOOC - Aphere: (( i forget that pretty often since my own is really really unintrusive
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (hey, it's cool. we all got those moments where we got blind spots
LOOC - Aphere: (( aren't we on in the same timezones though?? i mean i know im european but for all intents and purposes
LOOC - Aphere: (( i might log like an hour earlier than you? ish?
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (i'm on CT american
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (so idk
LOOC - Aphere: (( yeah but i mean i stay up to like, 7-8 am regularly
LOOC - Aphere: (( and i assume you, with a job, log at around midnight?
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (i work a 9-5 and that's if i don't work over, which i often do
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (no im on before midnight
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (like midnight is when im about to get off usually?
LOOC - Aphere: (( i mean log as in, log off
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (yeah, but even then i still have people i like to rp with, and have been trying to be inclusive of you when i am on
LOOC - Aphere: (( oh yeah yeah thats not it i wasn't trying to pivot into like " you have plenty of time!!!"
LOOC - Aphere: (( more like, i think we do share the same hours of play
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (im not 100% on that, but my point on the matter still like, kinda' stands
LOOC - Aphere: (( oh yeah absolutely uhh do you want to do
LOOC - Aphere: (( i can meta and just go like way easier on the IC on a counter-point
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (that's 100% up to you, as that's your ic and it's not mine. i'm definitely not going to tell you how to rp as that wouldn't be in the spirit of things
LOOC - Aphere: (( i mean come on i put you on the spot a little i realise and i don't want to fuck up future stuff over that
LOOC - Aphere: (( so im inclined to untangle it a little bit
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (oh, i know, and i'm saying this from a genuine place. when i say 'do your ic' it's not coming from a place of malice. so if you'd like to dial it back and rewind a bit, that's more than fine by me

LOOC - Aphere: (( oh yeah yeah sure all i want to do is just put it back somewhere you think is fair
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (well, again, that's up to you and how you feel is your ic. so if you want to re-rp or even just reset the scene, that's fine too
LOOC - Aphere: (( yes you know what omit last
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (sure thing
The next reboot will be in 5 hours.
Aphere grows just a little at the answer, hissing into her beak again before a part of her opts to pull from somewhere else, for just a second. And she visibly untenses just a little bit from having to pull from that font instead.

She still clenches her fists, but it seems more pained than out of anger. There's a growing frown, accompanied by a sigh as she looks off to the side in mixed shame and mixed anger.

"The lord Grimald has been.. scarce, the last couple of days, and I suppose I am not coping so well with the lack of his guidance or kindness."

She frowns a little more and slumps her shoulders in self-imposed defeat. She didn't seem particularly torn down by anything Arianne said, but clearly something she thought herself dragged it down pretty quickly.

"I do not really care if you spend more time on me, really. It's not about that, it is just..."

She clicks her beak once or twice, questioning. "I want to feel considered more, that is all. I understand I can be abrasive, but if you would please see past that and just, be a bit more tender.."

Her arms fold as her feathers flatten proper again, sighing in embarrassment.
(Aphere)

LOOC - Aphere: (( better??
LOOC - Arianne Martinet: (if that's your ic then it's groovy, dw
LOOC - Aphere: (( yeah it's the same thing just from another place i guess
[Elemental spells are the bread-and-butter of any competent mage.]
The Martinet keeps her fingers laced, watching the retainer with the same level look and the same, slight frown.

"I understand. I imagine his duties also take him elsewhere. He is a Lord of importance, but I understand. He was a guide to me as well when I took up the Martinet mantle."

There's a pensive cant of her head as she considers words before continuing.

"How would you like to be considered? I have been encouraging you to spar, to further yourself, offering you the supplies and what is at my House's disposal.

My issue is that you have been abrasive in the face of my continued efforts to include and incorporate you. Each time I offer you drink, or inquire, or bring you on patrol, or make attempt to include you in far-ranging dealings. It makes you seem...reluctant.

Do you understand?"
(Arianne Martinet)

EXP Gain: [(428.5*1)+0=428.5]

Aphere twiddles her talons slightly, frowning. A feathers briefly rise again for a little moment but it fails to really get anywhere at all.

"I've become very strong, lady Martinet. Maybe we should just start there. You've seen it and heard of it. You've also seen the lows it started from."

Her head tilts to the other side in question, then.

"Are you proud? You've never said."
(Aphere)

The Martinet takes a deep, bracing breath. The feathers about her neck rise and fall.

"I am proud of the progress in your strength.

I am not proud of your attitude. It takes more than brute force to be nobility, to unite, and to be respected among those whom we are duty-bound to."
(Arianne Martinet)

EXP Gain: [(152*0.544)+0=82.688]
She exhales slightly. She's well aware of the fact by now, given that Arianne isn't the first person to bring it up. There's a few nods, then.

"I was nicer before, I think. If I remember correctly. It's the corruption of strength. It is easier to look down on people you know you can beat and, in a way, part of you tries to make it second nature."

She pulls a shoulder slightly in a shrug. "Does that make sense to you at all?"
(Aphere)

Arianne arches one imperious brow above it's twin before it falls back down to level with the other.

"You were still coarse at times. But you were better than you are now. It makes some small sense.

That is, however, no excuse. We are meant to lead and to elevate those in our care. Not to quash and bash them and be ill-tempered.

I hope you can find your way past this."
(Arianne Martinet)

EXP Gain: [(202*1)+0=202]