Being back in Kirkwall was... strange. There was her usual distaste for the confinement of cities, of course. That would never go away. Even thick woods felt freer than the crowded, often narrow streets. But, unexpectedly, there was a sense of nostalgia as well. She felt she couldn't quite complain about the noise of the markets like she used to, nor the smell. As stupid as it seemed, Ceren felt a sort of fondness for it all. She and Esme had lived here content, at least, if not happy. They'd been poor, Esme still recuperating, but they'd built something of a life from nothing.
And now, that life had brought them back. But not to some Lowtown hovel. No, they'd somehow managed to secure the Clery Manor of all places. She chuckled every time she thought about it. What would her father say if he could see her now? Probably something about the manor looking nicer if it were out of the city. And she'd agree with him, but beggars can't be choosers.
"Damn it Genthus..." she said, voice raised to a shout as she approached the door. It stood ajar and, while that was currently helpful due to both her hands being laden with baskets, it was uncouth. And unsafe besides. She could hear muffled voices within, so he must have just arrived. And it must have been him. She doubted Esme or Caro would be so thoughtless.
"I know you know how doors work." she grumbled, turning, to push the door further open with her back. "Anyway, crab cakes?" the question started with a raised voice, but ended rather mutely as she turned and saw all who had gathered in the foyer, including a face she did not recognize.
"Oh... uh... there's some sausages too..." she said, hefting the baskets slightly in her arms. Her eyes glanced around, but kept flitting back to the stranger. She squinted, then realization lifted her eyebrows. "Horus?" the question, originally proposed to the stranger, shifted as Ceren looked to Esme. "Some salad too, looked pretty fresh." she said, moving through the foyer on her was to the kitchens.
@Esmé Lachance
@Genthus
@Horus
@Caro Byrne
And now, that life had brought them back. But not to some Lowtown hovel. No, they'd somehow managed to secure the Clery Manor of all places. She chuckled every time she thought about it. What would her father say if he could see her now? Probably something about the manor looking nicer if it were out of the city. And she'd agree with him, but beggars can't be choosers.
"Damn it Genthus..." she said, voice raised to a shout as she approached the door. It stood ajar and, while that was currently helpful due to both her hands being laden with baskets, it was uncouth. And unsafe besides. She could hear muffled voices within, so he must have just arrived. And it must have been him. She doubted Esme or Caro would be so thoughtless.
"I know you know how doors work." she grumbled, turning, to push the door further open with her back. "Anyway, crab cakes?" the question started with a raised voice, but ended rather mutely as she turned and saw all who had gathered in the foyer, including a face she did not recognize.
"Oh... uh... there's some sausages too..." she said, hefting the baskets slightly in her arms. Her eyes glanced around, but kept flitting back to the stranger. She squinted, then realization lifted her eyebrows. "Horus?" the question, originally proposed to the stranger, shifted as Ceren looked to Esme. "Some salad too, looked pretty fresh." she said, moving through the foyer on her was to the kitchens.
@Esmé Lachance
@Genthus
@Horus
@Caro Byrne
02-18-2025, 02:21 PM
