@fieldsofstardew
It had been a very long time since Meiko had traveled outside of the Capital, which was strange considering that hadn't been her original intention. Her parents were older folk, and Ma's bad leg and Da's penchant for alcohol meant work was scarce. In fact, part of her suspected that was why her parents had decided to take her in in the first place; not that they were bad people! They simply saw the practicality of it, in addition to wanting a child. And clearly they loved being parents, since they had taken in her brother a few years later, too.
Mei didn't mind the responsibility. It gave her purpose in an otherwise run-down, sketchy port town. And later, it gave her a reason to leave -- to head to the Capital with intent to make Tesserae to send back home.
She had anticipated being employed for labor, but on her first day upon arriving, Mistress Nashmeira had spotted her in the street and... that was it. Meiko found herself recruited, dressed up, excessively waxed, and forced onto a stage within a week. Thank the gods Nashmeira hadn't decided she'd make more coin running a brothel.
Still, Meiko enjoyed it. These past few years working with Troupe Falsiam drew her out of her small town mindset, helped her make plenty of friends, and helped her take care of her family besides. She was grateful, but living in the Capitol could never compare to the peace of a smaller town, which she sorely missed. Returning home would only drag her back into her former habits, however, so then she was faced with the question of where.
Fortunately, a potential solution appeared: the family that ran her favorite bakery had a son in the not-so-far small town of Mistria, which had reportedly been devastated from the recent earthquakes. The town was apparently well on its way to recovery, but his sisters had suggested Mei check it out as a potential new place to live -- and maybe check on their little brother along the way?
It wasn't a difficult decision to make. Not only did that solve her problem, but being an older sister herself, Meiko could empathize with the worrying. Mistress Nashmeira took the news moderately well, allowing her release on the promise that Meiko would return to the Capital once a month for specific performances. It was the best deal she could get without incurring Nashmeira's wrath, so she took it.
And now here she was -- on the road, so many years later, enjoying the peace of an open road far from bustling city streets! The only way it would be better is if she were closer to the sea, but apparently Mistria was? So long as it wasn't a complete shitehole, she very well was prepared to settle down there...providing there was room.
The main road was quiet, but by no means deserted. She had passed a few people on it already, although no one seemed to be going her way... until she familiar noise of wagon wheels turning. Meiko glanced behind her and instinctively, veered off to the side to give the wagon room to pass her. The man at the front of it seemed... familiar, but if he was coming from the Capital, that was no surprise.
"Mornin'!" she greeted, solely out of politeness.