The Snowasis is bustling with activity, even though it is only early evening and many have not even finished their chores for the day. A group of riders are sitting in a corner, playing a loud game of poker with mugs of beer scattered around their table. Laughter, loud voices, and drinking - it's not necessarily the most ideal place for a shy person to find themself. Meka has settled herself into a booth, staring at the empty plate of food in front of her in an attempt to be less noticeable.
Perhaps it's the snow that's keeping people inside and at their drink - trying to forget the inevitable creep of winter, and keep the chill away. Or maybe a lot of people just have the day off. The tall, thin brunette that's edging her way in from the caverns might; she's without a workbasket or anything else to keep her busy, just as it should be in the Snowasis. The burst of laughter from the cardplayers as she heads for the bar doesn't seem to phase her, but it does draw her attention as she orders her drink and waits. Dark gaze shifts between players, then over to Meka nearby. Bemused by the girl's rapt interest in her plate, Brieli pays for her drink, and moves in that direction.
"I told you, time an' time again, J'eph! Don't cheat!" A bluerider's voice is rising from the din, her finger leveling over the bronzerider's face in front of her. This has Meka's full attention until she notices movement to her left. She turns and looks, noting the majority of the tables are full and hers is not. "You can sit here if you like, I should probably get going...," she offers, moving to get up from the table.
Oh, Brieli is interested in the card game as well - her gaze is sharp and bright on the accusations, though it doesn't linger. The seamstress is quick to turn to Meka, head tilting in confusion as she notes, "Actually, I was going to ask if you minded sharing the table? Unless you have to go. It's better than sitting alone with that lot drinking nearby..." She wrinkles her nose a little, rolling eyes towards the gamblers. Um, ew.
"Oh, sure," Meka answers, moving to seat herself once more. "I was just waiting for a friend to come back." She pushes her empty plate to the side and looks to the gambling group once more. "They're awfully loud about that game." Her voice may be a little hard to hear, as soft as she speaks, in the loudness of the place. Aside from the group of gambling riders, there's enough people holed up and drinking in here that it's surprising. An improntu snow party, perhaps? Meka holds her hand out tentatively to Brieli, "I'm Meka, from Fishercraft Hall."
Standing by the bar at a small table by a noisy group of riders playing poker (and making accusations of cheating), Brieli sips at her drink while sliding in next to Meka. "Well, if your friend comes back, let me know and I'll be sure to give the seat back. And people are always loud about gambling, especially while drinking. Drinking always goes with gambling, it seems." Her calm, cultured voice is easy enough to hear, though she'll lean over to listen to the blonde more easily; take her hand. "I'm Brieli. I just moved here a few weeks ago, or so. Are you visiting?"
Lirienne slips in, edging around the larger groups that come and go as she takes her time. Pausing a momemt near a deserted table, the redhead looks over the room carefully - then even more carefully skirts away from the loud gambling table and heads towards the bar.
"Do you like it here?" Meka asks, polite in the question though a little hesitant with it. The gamblers just keep getting louder, so she has to try and speak louder. "I, uh, yes! I'm just visiting!" She throws a glance towards the gamblers and then back to Brieli. "Is it always like this?"
The redhead apprentice isn't the only one who's starting to avoid the card game area - as it gets louder, it seems there are complaints, and the Snowasis staff come over to break up a game that looked like it was veering towards 'brawl' anyway. Brieli looks crushed about that, she does; she watches the grumbling cardplayers depart with barely contained amusement. "I like it so far, but then, it just started snowing," she tells Meka, no longer having to shout. "And it's gambling, I'm telling you. Men especially, they get like that over money. Never risk money. It makes you crazy."
Lirienne keeps aside as the game is broken up, then makes her way to the bar - there to actually, yes, order something. Just a cider, or something similiar, "Hot though pleased - with some spices?" she requests with a slight stutter over the words, before she offers a slight smile at the semi-familar Brieli. "Hello."
"Oh, yes, marks. It is something that upsets most people. Gambling is big at Fisher... lots of time to waste on a boat, I suppose," Meka replies, watching as the gamblers get broken up and tossed out. "They were very loud," she continues, moving to idly twirl her finger back and forth on the table. She offers a tentative smile at Lirienne as she greets Brieli.
Glancing towards the bar at the greeting, Brieli returns the apprentice's smile and gives a nod. "Hello... We met, the other day, yes? Do you want to sit, as long as her friends and the cardplayers don't come back, that is?" Her chin tips up to indicate Meka, puts her drink down to gesture to a seat. With a sigh for the blonde, "They were indeed. And I suppose on a boat, there's not many alternatives, are there? Well." She might say more but she just stops right there, drinks instead.
Lirienne tilts her head, then says to Meka, "If, well, you don't mind? And they can be. But... best place for hot cider," she admits, before offering a slight smile, "I'm Lirienne." Keeping to simple words, she doesn't move to sit until she has that drink of hers, both hands wrapped around it.
"I'm Meka," is offered as Lirenne sits. It could move towards an awkward time among strangers, but she seems to be getting over her initial shyness. "What do you do here?" she asks of Brieli and then turns to include Lirienne with the question, smiling slightly. "I'm of Fisher, as I told Brieli, but not formly apprenticed or anything." She shrugs, looks at her fork and stills her hands movements.
Brieli agrees with Lirienne, "It is! And hot chocolate. But I admit to warming up with a bit of rum today." Her glass is not being emptied quickly however, so there's that. "Brieli," she reiterates, just in case anyone isn't certain. "And I'm a seamstress, myself. Not a particularly excellent one, but that's what I do. I believe Lirienne is an apprentice, though not of Fisher." There's a moment before, "Actually, what brings you from Fisher? In this weather? It seems a little cruel."
"Healer," Liri admits, before settling in to listen a bit as she sips at her drink, before adding, "And such distance," she tacks on to Brieli's series of questions after a brief moment to check her mental map.
"I came on an errand with our Harper and we got snowed in due to bad weather," Meka answers, shrugging. "It's only been a day or so we've been here. It's been a great adventure, though," she offers, smiling more. "It's fun to watch the dragons flying overhead." She nods at Liri, "I imagine it must be nice, being a healer."
Sipping at her drink, Brieli has her own admission: "I don't think I could be a Healer. An awful lot of pressure, really. I'd be a wre-" She stops halfway into that sentence and corrects; "I don't think I could remember everything I'd need to either. I'm personally impressed, Lirienne." Meka's 'great adventure' doesn't quite get the sideeye, but she does look somewhat bemused, noting, "Well, at least you weren't stuck somewhere less hospitable. They tell me it doesn't last long at first."
"It...has its points. And, yes, a lot of remembering - but that's not all. Caring is important too,"' Liri allows.
"Oh, there he is," Meka states, rising from her chair as a tall, blonde haired, man comes in the door. "It was nice meeting you two," she adds, smiling briefly. "I hope to see you around more, maybe? While I visit, anyway." She rushes to the door, grabbing the man's arm with a little laugh as he bends down to tell her something and the pair leave together.
"I tend to prefer to stay as far from life and death as possible." Brieli offers a slight grin at that, allowing, "I'm sure it is - there seems to be a lot to the job. Unlike 'seamstress'. Which is perhaps boring, yes. But low-stress." As Meka finds her friend - harper? - the brunette waves after her, murmuring, "Seems nice enough. No idea why she was in here."
"Agreed - and... there is something to be said for lack of stress." Liri looks at her mug for a moment, then wrinkles her nose. "Speaking of, I should go. I still have studying to do tonight."
Lightly, "See, no studying with seamstressing. Take the cider to go, no one will care." Brieli is likely right - no one's paying attention at the very least. "Good luck with it, Lirienne."
Lirienne's smile is more grimance than not, and then she's escaping the crowd with her stolen mug.
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