A Visit to Alfitaria

[crowned_jewel]

Characters: Garnet, Rydia, Open to those in Alfitaria (I'm lookin' at you, Eiko, Edge, and Rishfee! Also Steiner!)
Progress: On-going
Summary: Garnet finally makes her stop in Alfitaria
Location: Afitaria.
Date: Nov 7, 1804

Comments

[eidolon_soul]

As soon as Rydia heard about the Red Rose docking, she departed the palace with all due haste. Garnet's visit was something she'd been looking forward to for quite some time, and she was eager to give her friend the grand tour. Then, too, she hoped for the chance to spend time with just Dagger and not the Queen of Alexandria. The goodwill tour would force her to be Garnet for some of it, but hopefully she could manage some time to be herself as well.

She headed down the street at a quick pace, a bright whirlwind of green and gold. Her mind was focused on heading toward the ship and little else. Spotting Dagger hasn't happened yet, but least Rydia herself was relatively easy to notice?

[crowned_jewel]

Rydia was always easy to spot, and when Garnet saw the blur of green moving quickly through the crowd on the opposite side of the street, she stopped. The hood of her white mage's coak fell to her shoulders as she turned sharply.

"Rydia!" she called out, cupping her hands around her mouth. And then, for good measure, she raised an arm above her head.

[eidolon_soul]

Well, that was a surprise, though it definitely made Rydia's task easier. She grinned immediately upon seeing Garnet wave, resuming her swift pace as she angles over towards her friend, beyond excited that she's finally here. Hug time?

[crowned_jewel]

It was as though Rydia read her mind. As soon as the summoner was within arm's reach, Dagger beamed, throwing her arms around her friend in a firm embrace. It had been far too long since she had set eyes on Rydia, and after all that had been going on, she was just so glad to see her in one piece!

"I'm so happy to see you!" she cried.

[captain_rusty]

Heart attack: Yes, Steiner was having one. Alfitaria was huge. Not to mention it was full of Lilties, Selkies, Sky People and many other unsavoury types. And he was supposed to be guarding her! If she came back from the assault on Alexandria only to be killed by some common thug, Steiner would never forgive himself.

Which was why he was currently running through the streets in a panic. "Garnet! GARNET!"

[crowned_jewel]

Garnet didn't know how long she'd been wandering around, site-seeing, visiting, enjoying herself, before she heard Steiner calling for her. She sighed inwardly, and several times, avoid him. Why must he call out to her by that name? Would he never understand her desire to blend in, even now? She did feel terrible though, worrying him like that.

Following the familiar voice, Garnet stepped up behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder. "Steiner, be quiet! You're going to draw unnecessary attention!" she hissed.

[captain_rusty]

Steiner jumped, whirling around to face his queen. "Y-yes, my apologies!" He almost saluted before remembering that that would draw even more unnecessary attention.

Instead, he moved to draw her away to a quieter side street, where they could talk. "I am sorry, but you disappeared for hours! It is my duty to protect you - and while you are out of my sight, I cannot do so!"

At least he hadn't gone around shouting 'Your Majesty'. Steiner had learned that lesson.

[crowned_jewel]

"I just wanted to see the city, without being under constant watch. I was with Rydia though, so it's alright," she said. Rydia had been kind enough to show her around, and the two girls had chattered for quite some time. Even so, Garnet had known she should go find her loyal guard, and had bid Rydia farewell with a promise to see her again once they formally arrived at the palace of Alfitaria.

She glanced around, and smiled. "What do you think of this place?" she asked.

[immortal_lion]

Rishfee had decided to survey the city as well. Really- it truly was a marvellous place. The streets were unlike anything he'd ever seen before, less of the labyrithine alleys and avenues of home he was used to yet certainly not anything alike the winding, long alleys of Lindblum that he was just starting to become used to.

And the people.
While he'd already established that the natives of Gaia were not quite humes; he'd never have expected to see anything alike Lilties. Aside from the fact they didn't seem to possess ears, they were like the Tarutaru in multiple ways. Quite shocked at his first sight of a pair laughing at the side of the road, he allowed himself to doubletake before taking a small (automatic) step to the side; lest he hold up the considerable flow of people traffic.

[crowned_jewel]

It just so happened as he stepped to the side, out of one's way, he stepped right into another's. Garnet let out a muffle sound as they collided, and she stumbled to the side.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there--" she began, looking up at him. And then recognition dawned on her face. She'd seen him before, around Lindblum's palace, and also on the network. "Rishfee?"

[immortal_lion]

"...!"

Something soft. Momentum, yet not a lot of force. Turning; what little of his face that could be seen changed immediately to a look of not-so-faint horror at who this person was. Thankfully Gaia had sucked dry the kind of (stupidly) formal kneeling reactions drilled into him in Aht Urhgan at the sight of nobility. Instead he bowed. Formal- yet not overwhelming.

"Queen Garnet, A thousand apologies.. Are you all right?"

[crowned_jewel]

In a quick motion, Garnet pressed her fingers to his lips -- a signal to quiet.

"I'm fine, but please, don't use my title out here. I'm trying to keep a low profile." she smiled then. "I expected you'd be here, since I knew Eiko was still visiting. I didn't expect to run into you out here, though." Garnet glanced around. "But where IS Eiko?"