::Neko takes the offered hood and looks between it and the man beside her. With a shrug of acceptance, she tries to put it on. It takes her a few tries to get it right, but finally it is in place, looking comically oversized on her small frame. She takes a moment to breath in his familiar, but different scent before looking back up at him expectantly.::
Grayell smiles then and reaches out to tug the hood down. She likely knew nothing of it's meaning and truly, it was just a hood for the most part; but he didn't need anyone with foolish ideas seeing her as Vanguard.
He led her through the streets and made for the Merchant Market. He didn't have a single gold coin to his name presently, but surely they would help him out this once. They had damn well better after the coin he paid but a few days ago. He kept his voice low as he walked.
"I need a hood as well. It's a very special thing that, but you musn't wear it properly unless I say it's ok. Perhaps one day you'll wear it as a uniform eh?"
He laughed then, there was much to the story behind the blue hood but none of it seemed important presently.
"So. I will just have to borrow one for now. That will allow us to talk and you can tell me everything you have to say."
::She had experience with magickal items in the past, so she was not surprised by the abilities he claimed the hood possessed. She fell in half a step behind him and to the side as she followed him thru the small town. Her short legs working quickly to keep up. She keeps her head down as much as possible, but she finds it hard not to look about in curiosity. And instinct has her constantly looking for signs of danger even here.::
They made it to their destination with ease and Grayell managed to coerce the shop keep to 'loan' him a spare hood for a time. After all, he did hand the man the design and 'lead' the group that the hood was exclusively for. He kept it in his hand and wound his way out the back of the stalls and shops, before leading her behind a large warehouse sitting high over the water. The evening was upon them and the sun let the last of it's light play across the water, him leaning upon a stack of crates. He patted the top of one beside him, suggesting he sit.
In fact, he put the hood on and said as much, without every uttering a word.
::She springs up to perch on the crates beside him.::
Y..yes...
::Shyly, she avoids looking at him and instead turns her attention to picking at the crates with her claws, working out some splinters and tracing lines around the crudly shaped nails that hold them together.::
Grayell laughed a little, folding his arms and look at her sideways. There was no tension in his posture of his 'voice' just warmth. He watched her keep her hands busy in a nervous manner and shook his head.
Thank you... I'm sorry for my behavior... It was not...Honorable. I forgot my lessons, Unc...sir.
::Pick, pick, pick. As darkness decends her subconcious pulls on the bit of training she learned from Father as the shadows about her face pool to become more concealing.::
Grayell blew an exasperated huff of air and shrugs. His face was concealed too, that was the enchanted nature of the hood.
"Honour. More men using that for an excuse instead of a cause these days. There is no dishonour in being excited Neko. Now, being a little embarrassed is fine. But dishonour? Hardly."
He lifted and sat himself on the crate now, right next to her. His eyes, hidden in the recesses of the hood, were on the water and the waning light.
"You'll have to forgive me. I... am not sure how this all works. I feel like I know you. I feel like you're someone special to me. Were you about to call me Uncle?"
He shook his head, rubbed at his neck and turned to face her.
"Please, tell me everything. I need to know. This isn't the first time something like this has happened."
::She nods in acceptance, still not looking at him. The corner of the crate now a shredded mess, she turns to shuffling and kicking her feet as they dangle over the edge. If the Hood picks up any surface emotions, Grayell can tell they are a chaotic mess. Hope and dispair. Exhaustion and excitment. Fear and peace. Finally, the dam breaks and she turns to look at him...
Grayell's head starts to bounce as he is hit with the onslaught, him blinking as he tries to keep up and make sense of it all.... until finally he shakes his head and laughs a little. The response is simple.
"Tell me Neko. Why were you needing to find me? Is everything ok?"
::Taking a deep breath, she tries to control herself. Suddenly she was wishing she had not eaten so fast on an empty stomach...::
I...I think so. Father never told me why He was looking for you. He just complained alot about all the effort he was putting into it. I think he just missed having you around, despite what He kept saying. And I... I just missed my Uncle...
::The color of the flesh beneath the fur on her cheeks turns a color to rival that of the hair on her head as she blushes in embarassment. Shaking her head, she looks back at her feet.::
But you're not really MY Uncle are you? I mean you are, but you're not. It's all very confusing. I don't know what to think... What to feel...
Grayell looked at her for a time, not quite sure of what to say to that. He didn't have any family outside of Kiko and Kiga and that was not an altogether pleasant thought some days. He'd lost his first family, his true family and he knew all too well the pain of that.
He had no idea what had happened to the man she thought was him, but he certainly hoped she wasn't referring to Renquist. But then Renquist had called him 'brother' and whilst he loathed the thought... if he was somehow 'related', well then he was indeed her Uncle.
"You know, I don't know how it works. I mean more than one of me. It's an odd thought really. But if that is the case - then I'm still your Uncle, right? I mean I cannot sit here and presume to just be that person, I don't have a wealth of memories of you and I.... but I do know one thing.
I know you. Or part of me does. And if memories are what make that a reality, then I say we make some."
::She wipes a tear from her eye with the back of her hand and looks back up to Grayell with some hope and a faint smile. The shadows pulling back to show her face more clearly once again.::
Grayell might have still been at a loss for what to make of all of this, but he knew enough about this tiny person to reach out, wrap his arms about her and pull her head to his chest. He rested his head top hers and whispered in comfort, then lifted and looked down at her with a warm smile.
"There now miss, no tears."
He slipped his hand onto her head and mussed with the hood some, it covering her hair.
::She practically beams at the gesture, remembering it from so long ago. She still wasn't sure what was going on, if she was even in the right place, but she had finally accepted that either way, she was here, and she should make the most of it for as long as it lasted.::
Are you sure I can stay with you? I can always find somewhere else...
::She wasn't sure where or how, but she had survived this long. And besides, she had learned there were always people willing to pay for someone with her skills.::