"Gods, I'm starved..."
A hand rested at her stomach as she spoke, the gleaner braced herself against the white stone wall as the two made their way down on of the many poorly kept paths in Aleport. Arsay turned to face her current company, a bright-eyed Miqo'te of the Y and someone she knew since her childhood in the Drivianian Hinterlands, Y'shtola Rhul.
"Hey. Shtola. Don't suppose it's your turn treat me for a meal is it? I’ve only enough coin for the ferry back home..."
Were it any other by her side she'd not dare plead so openly, however, with this archon there was little reason not to be completely honest from the start. Even still, the instant feeling of regret rushed through Arsay as her walking partner's lips twisted into a mischievous grin and a particular twinkle in those aqua-green eyes flashed. There was no doubt the impending doom of being teased by a good friend loomed over her now...
"Curious. I seem recall our earlier conversation in which you boasted about being one of the most sought after gleaners in all of Sharlayan. One could only assume you would have the finances to back up such claims." said Y'shotla, her voice rich in a playfully mocking tone Arsay had grown all too familiar with. As fast as Y'shtola was on the attack, Arsay matched her speed on the defence.
"What I said is true! Factually, I've more unique clientele then the average gleaner! ...It just so happens said clientele aren't always very reliable at paying their due." Arsay added with a pout. A part of her knew full well this was only going to drag her deeper into trouble with her friend. But between that and withholding her circumstances it still felt like the better option. The overstuffed backpack acted as a cushion as she leaned further onto the wall, "One in particular has racked up quite the bill." She spoke with a heavy sigh hoping some visible distress could at least earn a few sympathy points. Go easy on me, was the plead that sigh carried out.
No, you asked for this, was the smug reply drawn from Y'shtola's raised eyebrow. Alas, Arsay had made the critical mistake of presenting her incredibly clever, thoughtful, and kind-hearted friend with a problem who's solution was so simple she would have had to been an outright fool not to see it herself. And because Y'shtola was so thoughtful, and so kind, and so clever, it was up to her to present the obvious to her fool of a friend.
"Right. And have you considered, perhaps, not accepting new requests until past debts are paid in full? Alternatively, prioritizing those who are consistent in their compensation?"
Arsay rolled her eyes in response to Y'shtola's expectant gaze. The gleaner could handle her fair share of patronizing sarcasm; who couldn't when most everyone you work for is some kind of scholar determined to sound like they know more then you regardless of subject. "I'm looking for that horn-key-thing on my side if things the best that I can. Not once has it left the docket. But let me just say looking for an Elezen with no shadow isn't as easy as it sounds." The seeker clicked her tongue to this as she always does when the subject it brought up. "And do trust that I've tried saying no! But then he looks at me with this hopeless expression- like a cute, little, lost kitten- and I feel compelled to help! It's all for his Archon thesis. You recall how strict the citation process was for that, do you not? Needing only, uh..."
Y'shtola's tail flicked, "Primary sources." She finished.
"Exactly!" Arsay snapped her fingers, "Anyroads, seems like every other day he's asking for some relic or tome that gets me travelling all ends of Hydaelyn. The travel expenses alone... whew."
Arsay forced a laugh hoping to bring some levity to the conversation. The chuckles quickly trailed off when all she was met with was a very serious frown. She wasn't sure what part it was exactly, but something in what she just said certainly did not sit well with her friend. The seeker's ears were ever so slightly tucked back against her head and something decidedly more vicious had replaced the playfulness in her expression. Not a moment longer passed before the archon released that ever sharp tongue of hers.
"The path to archonship is not one to be tackled by the ill prepared. If his sources are so difficult to obtain that it has run you into the red, then the issue lies in his faulty arguments. Were I in your shoes I would suggest he quit this frivolity and turn his focus to matters more within his academic means." snarked Y'shtola, barely disguising her sudden indigence for a man she'd never met for authority over this situation.
"Oh come now, Shtola, don't be like that. He's really quite smart! It's a difficult topic is all." Arsay was quick to object as she crossed her arm unimpressed. "Lest you forget I helped shuttle tomes and materials to you during your own thesis writing days; more then you could reasonably keep track of by the end of it. Not once did I ask you to open your coffers."
"Because," Y'shtola hissed back, "you are a dear friend, Arsay. This, however, is a different case entirely. This would-be archon of yours, he's but a-"
"A stranger? I seem to recall a dear friend telling me I aught to help as many of those as I can, just as she sailed away from home to do the same."
With a tilt of her head the gleaner's interjection fell upon Y'shtola like a bucket of water taken from the docks of Old Sharlayan. Frigid enough to shock the Seeker in her place. She drew a sharp breath, eyes glued to the uncommon sight of Arsay's frown as she denied her lungs their function. Slowly as her better senses had seemingly returned to her Y'shtola exhaled, "Yes. I suppose I did." Oh how she hated to lose an argument.
The gleaner put a consoling hand on Y'shtola's shoulder and smiled, "G'raha may be a stranger to you, Shtola, but to me he's a likely new friend. I trust him to make good on his word eventually. Even if he doesn't I'm satisfied enough I played some part in aiding someone achieving their dream."
"And what of your aspirations? To save enough coin as to become a free agent who can roam regardless of procurement contracts. That you would so quickly stray from that goal upon my absence would be," she averted her gaze as the words shamefully fumbled from her mouth, "...disappointing. For me."
That was it, wasn't it? The fear that she might lose out on a future they once spoke about as children- the two of them taking on the world together- that's what drove her to lash out just now. It had to be. In an instance Arsay felt her heart fill to the brim with warmth. So much so it threatened to overflow.
She took the archon's hand in her own. "Pray Shtola, don't doubt me so. I'd never dare break such an important promise." Arsay beamed. "We've our whole lives still ahead of us! More then enough time to even out my balances." The seeker looked up at her and smiled in return. "I don't mean to you keep you waiting too long," the gleaner continued, "but I know you'll find little trouble keeping yourself busy in the meanwhile. Though I ask you leave some of this realm's greater mysteries until such time that we can tackle them together." The gleaner's enthusiasm was as sincerer as it was infectious; and it was enough to reassure her friend.
"Hm," Y'shtola hummed as she mulled over Arsay's words. Her eyes drifted down towards her hand still cupped in the blue leather glove of her friend's. The archon's smile softened before she gently pulled it back and released it from Arsay's grasp. "I suppose I could make an attempt. Though I will not guarantee for how long I'll keep it up." She smirked and turned forward ready to put this whole conversation behind them.
"Are you still hungry?" Y'shtola asked.
Arsay perked up, "Famished!"
"Good. I could stand for some lunch as well. Come, there's an tavern some ways north of here." Y'shtola chuckled back as she began to make her way to their new trajectory; her closest friend right behind her.
