Stay Refreshed [D1 A]

[Davelyn Sand]

After earlier time in the meadow, Davelyn decided it was time to start seeing what Ashford proper had to offer. The name of this place made him chuckle when he heard it. Deciding to give it a look, Ser Sand made his way in.

[Kaliya Redding]

It was the name of the tavern that had also caught Kaliya's attention. Glancing down at her skirt and her almost certainly ruined slippers, flecks of mud from earlier that day dirtying her hem, she laughed softly. How fitting, she observed, and pushed through the door. Her dark eyes adjusted as she glanced about, her dress a vivid splash of crimson against the tavern's interior.

[Davelyn Sand]

The bright light blue of Davelyn's own clothing was near impossible to miss among mostly drab colors. The young man ordered a bottle of something that looked like wine and a small loaf of bread and some cheese to go with it. Taking them to a table, he sat and opened up the bottle and began on what might be his lunch.

He noticed the red as he was taking his first bite, and smiled pleasantly in her direction. Her heritage was obvious and he hadn't been expecting it.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya's eyes, appearing black in the low light, were attentive, and the blue garb was impossible to miss. Her eyebrows went up as she examined the young man. A sly, cat-like smile appeared and she approached Davelyn. "You must be the Dorrnishman, you'rre verry clean," her voice is heavy with the lazy accent of the Southron coast, Rs trilled, and her tone is teasing.

[Davelyn Sand]

Davelyn's own accent was not as thick, but it was still obvious. "Well, not the one this place is named after," he says with a smirk. Getting out of his chair so he can introduce himself properly, he bows to the woman. "Ser Davelyn Sand, sworn knight of Cedric Kellington. It is a pleasure to meet you milady."

His eyes rise to meet hers as he stands. "You are free to join me if you like. I've not yet tasted the wine, so I can make no promises."

The accent was not all that was slightly less Dornish. The way he stood was more akin to the posture of northern knights, though the way he moved when he pulled a chair out for her was smooth and fluid like a Dornish warrior. He seemed to be something of a walking contradiction.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya had returned his bow with a deep and elegant curtsy, the skirts of her revealing gown swishing against the flagstones as she did. "Lady Kaliya Rredding, but forrmerly a Ladybrright. Well met on this pleasant day, Serr Davelyn, if I may call you so, the rrest is quite a mouthful."

She accepted the offered chair with grace and dignity, and indicated to the tavern keeper for another cup, and some more bread and cheese. "Have you been long out of Dorrne?" she asked, "it has been farr too long since I hearrd the accent of home."

[Davelyn Sand]

He nods. "Davelyn is fine milady. It's been near three years now since I left Sunspear. I must admit that I miss it myself, though I chose this for myself for the good of relations with northern neighbors. And to honor House Kellington's sacrifice for House Martell during the rebellion."

When the cup arrives, Davelyn pours a bit for his lunch companion. Setting the bottle aside, he lifted his cup for a small toast. "But here's to finding a little bit of home away from home."

[Kaliya Redding]

"A fine thing," Kaliya responded, clearly approving of his choice. Taking up her cup, "to a home away frrom home," she echoed, and drank to Dorne and the handsome man sitting opposite her. Her dark eyes seemed to be studying him, taking in his fine features, perrhaps I am biased by his Dorrnish blood, but she can't deny that he is quite attractive.

After a long moment, "between Dorrne and House Rredding, I believe I have become quite spoilt. The wine is not terrible, but my late husband cerrtainly knew a good drrop."

[Davelyn Sand]

"Yes... it's not too bad. But if you'd like to know a little secret..." He leans over towards her a bit and whispers conspiratorially. "I brought some with me. A half dozen bottles of Dornish red. I have my aunt send me some every few months."

He leans back in his chair and smiles at her. "So if we can come up with a good reason to celebrate while we're here I can break out a taste and smell of home to go with the sights and sounds."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya gasped dramatically, a hand going to her delicate collarbone, she laughs. Leaning in slightly, a mirror of his movement that affords the man a generous view directly down her plunging neckline, the dress seeming almost painted on, "does one need a rreason to celebrrate?" Her voice is pitched low, sultry, and as she speaks softly she seems to almost purr the words.

She straightens and eyes the young man, "no doubt you should find me to be an exceptional hostess, given the rright opporrtunity."

[Davelyn Sand]

His eyes, follow along wherever she seems to will them, though they always seem to find their way back to her eyes as he makes a conscious effort to be respectful. "Well, you don't really need a reason to celebrate, but sometimes when the wine is fine you want a reason other than today is Maiden's day." Davelyn chuckles at that.

He takes a bite of bread and cheese before washing it down with the wine.

[Kaliya Redding]

Sipping her wine, "then perrmit me to make a counterr-offerr." If she had noticed Davelyn's efforts to stay his gaze, she seemed more amused than anything. "While it is no Dorrish vintage, I do have wine frrom the Rredding vineyard. I have the spices and herrbs, mulled in the trraditions of home, I believe it will serrve as an acceptable substitute."

[Davelyn Sand]

Despite all his apparent comfort with her, his attitude always seems a bit more friendly and playful than flirtatious. Not that it's hard for her to tell he finds her attractive, but he clearly has something of a more knightly sensibility for such things. That doesn't stop him from continuing his playfulness though.

"Aww," he says with a hint of fake sadness. "I thought perhaps we might be able to find a proper reason. Perhaps when we've gotten a bottle into the Redding wine we might think of a reason to taste something a bit more Dornish."

[Kaliya Redding]

"Call it a prractice rrun," Kaliya purred, taking a delicate bite of cheese. "I believe anything worrth doing is worrth doing twice." She gave a little shrug, but her cattish smile has a predatory hint about it.

"Thrree yearrs away frrom home? Did you spend all of that time in Lorrd Kellington's serrvice?"

[Davelyn Sand]

"Practice it is then." The predatory nature of her smile was a bit lost on him, but it was a beautiful smile none-the-less. One he enjoyed seeing and returning.

"Yes, I have been at the Cragfort for much of that time. A few times I went out and saw the countryside in the Stormlands but not much outside of that," he confirms with a nod. "And how about yourself? What has your time outside of Dorne been like?"

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya's smile faded a little, I am a birrd trrapped in a cage of gold, she thought darkly, but such things were not for lighthearted afternoon conversation. "I am a widow in deep mourrning, can you not tell?" she teased lightly, knowing there was nothing in her dress or demeanour to suggest that her loss weighed on her. "I was married forr a time. I doubt you would find my tales of being wife to a Lorrd's accountant parrticularrly thrrilling."

[Davelyn Sand]

"I am sorry for your loss, Lady Redding," he say, bowing his head for a moment in token condolence. It wasn't abnormal for marriages to be uninspired and lacking any real emotional substance. And widowers were not really all that great a political trade. But it was for those reasons that Davelyn's interest seemed all the more keen in that moment.

"But we cannot allow the things we've lost to weigh us down, can we? They have gone, but... we're still here."

[Kaliya Redding]

She brightened, "that we arre. So long as therre is a sun in the sky, and sand beneath my feet, I will keep on." She thought for a brief moment, "but betterr than the sand beneath my feet is a powerrful steed between my thighs. Do you rride, Davelyn?" That sly smile was back, that purring tone.

[Davelyn Sand]

"I consider myself something of an expert in riding," he says with a smile and a nod. "Did you wish to do so sometime? Because I would definitely love to."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya raised her eyebrows slightly, interresting, she observed, tapping the finely manicured nails of one hand gently against the tabletop. "I do not know who becomes more rrestless without exerrcise, myself or Perrlerra. You know how the Sand Steeds arre, they must rrun."

[Davelyn Sand]

"I know what you mean. Qitam can be quite rambunctious if he doesn't get some play time in each day," Davelyn says with a chuckle. "I can get that way too if I don't practice with my spear or have a good ride." ...which, believe it or not, he says with a staight-faced innocence.

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya hides her surprise behind an amused smile, he's youngerr than I thought, nothing wrrong with that. Her expression thoughtful, Kaliya inches her chair around the table a little, bringing herself closer to the young man, her knees almost bumping against his. "Therre is something that I am most currious about, if you might indulge me?"

[Davelyn Sand]

With how close she's become, her perfume strikes him and brings a smile to his face. He turns a bit to face her more, directly, his knee coming into contact. It seems even despite his innocent naivety when it comes to words, he actually has little shyness or fear.

"Please ask. If I have an answer I'll share it," he replies.

[Kaliya Redding]

Clearly pleased, Kaliya did not shy from the contact, rather she placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned closer. When she was only a hair's breadth from him, she whispered something, her breath hot against his ear.


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OOC: Whisper via PM

[Davelyn Sand]

The directness was met with a chuckle. Leaning in to offer a reply, he returns the whisper. Directness seems to be his primary mode of communication, apparently not too skilled in talking around things.