Arrival (open)

This was his first time here, in this town. He was used to the fields that farmers worked hard in day in and day out, not sold streets that had people in them selling their wares for coins. Course that was how life went. In order to live you had to sell what you made or worked hard to help grow. Though Parn was no longer a farmer, he left that trade behind back in his home country. He needed a new trade, a new way to make money to where suspicion wouldn't fall onto him when he was gone everyone so often.

That every so often would be the nights of the full moon when he needed to disappear. He got himself cursed due to how slow he was going, and hopefully he could keep that curse a secret. So getting close to people might not be wise would it? But if he distanced himself too greatly, wouldn't people get suspicious that way? Such a confusing thing.

The village market was bustling with villagers trading and selling their wares. For such a small village, the market place was usually very busy and Ileana often wandered down to have a browse through the items there. It was a crisp cold morning and Ileana hugged her coat to her body as she wandered through the market place. Her clothing didn’t match with the usual fashionable women’s clothing, she’d taken to dressing down, wearing clothing that was more practical for the work she often found herself doing. Ileana paused to look over a stall with fresh fruit and vegetables, she knew the seller well, but it seemed today he wasn’t working the stall. She purchased an apple from the stall and moved to her favourite perch on the wall near the church. From there she could see the entire square and often enjoyed watching the comings and goings of the village.  

Cleaning the apple on her skirt, she took a bite, her dark eyes scanning the familiar crowd. It was then she noticed a figure she’d not seen before. Being a small village she knew or at least recognised most faces and this was a face she was sure she’d never laid eyes on before. Rising from her spot she made her way over to the man, pausing for a moment, she tossed her apple core into a nearby pig tough before she spoke. ‘Your new here, aren’t you?’ She asked, wondering what the man’s motive for travelling to such a small village was. Her curiosity was often a downfall of hers.  

A voice came to his ears and he searched for the owner of the voice. His brown gaze landed upon Ileana quickly. He nodded his head as he stood there, though he quickly realized that some people didn't like it when they just got a head shake or nod as their response.

"Yes, I....I've just arrived today actually." Parn said. "My name is Parn Tor, though...please just call me Parn."

He held his hand out to do a handshake with Ileana. It was how his father taught him to introduce himself. Say his name and hold out his hand to shake hands with the person. By this point in his life, it had been drilled into his mind and now it was just part of his nature.

Ileana raised an eyebrow as he spoke, accepting his handshake she couldn’t help but wonder what brought him here. She was naturally suspicious of strangers, people rarely visited the small village. The locals had learnt quickly that people who wanted to escape from the eyes of the world, came to small places like this and often thieves and paupers wormed their way into the village in the hopes of making a new start. Ileana however, believed that a leopard didn’t change it spots.  

Pushing her doubts from her mind, she offered the man a weak smile, despite all of that she had been taught to show compassion and understanding towards others. ‘Parn’ she repeated, ‘what brings you out here? To our lonely little village, we don’t have much to offer?’ she asked, ‘I’m Ileana’ she added as an afterthought.  

Parn wasn't anything like that, not a thief or anything bad. Sadly his curse would make people say that he was nothing but a beast and try to kill him. The weak smile Ileana gave him, made him feel like he had just made her uncomfortable in some way.

"I.... I never liked my old home so....I..I... I left." Parn replied. "Nice to meet you....Ileana."

Ileana narrowed her eyes at his reaction, his hesitation suggested he was shying away from telling her the full truth, but then why should he? She was a total stranger to him and he was new in the village. She nodded slowly, he seemed like a gentle person, there was no suggestion he was a threat, but then it would be unwise to make assumptions. ‘Well as I said’ Ileana continued, ‘there’s not much here at all, I’m not sure you are going to find whatever it is your looking for…’ she trailed off awkwardly. ‘If you are looking for somewhere to stay the Inn usually has rooms…it’s simple, but the foods good.’ She explained pointing across the busy square to the inn.

He couldn't exactly tell her the full truth. The full truth would get him chased out of the town and run the risk of being killed. He expected Ileana to keep questioning him, it just felt like to him what she'd do. Some people wouldn't just take his answer and accept it, they'd try to get more out of him. Though he was proven wrong when she started to tell him where the Inn was. His brown gaze looked in the direction that she was pointing in, he soon returned his gaze to Ileana.

"T...Thank you...." Parn replied with a little less stuttering. "i..I'm sure it'll...it'll be fine..."

Ileana nodded curtly, it would have to do, there weren't many places for travellers to stay, but then the village wasn't used to tourists. 'I hope you find our little village pleasant,' she replied, glancing around the market she leaned forward and whispered 'If your hungry, I'd suggest going down to the docks to the Sword and Bow, the foods a little less...gritty..' she explained. Her experiences of the food at the inn wasn't the most pleasant. 

Parn nodded his head to Ileana's words. Hopefully he'd be able to start a new here, that was what he wanted after all. To have a new life despite his curse, at least he'd be able to hide in the woods during the time his curse would show itself.

"T..Thank you for the advice Miss...Ileana." Parn replied as he gave a kind smile though he was still having a hard time not being nervous.

Ileana nodded her brow furrowing at slightly, it was clear she wasn't going to extract much from the man about himself. She couldn't blame him, she didn't volunteer much about herself either. She glanced across the square, it was starting to get late and she had been hoping to catch her friend, before she returned home. Turning back to Parn she smiled briefly, 'Well it was nice meeting you Parn, I hope you enjoy your evening' she said with a nod, before turning to make her way across the market place. She could see her friend beginning to pack her stall away and Ileana hastened to meet her.