"Not so much as what was in there, but the attitude. I've yet to see a Harbormaster quite so accommodating. Plus, well, to be frank, your voice changed. I knew you were worried about something, too."
Diegis glanced back down the street they had just come from and then toward a small group of people just now crossing the main road.
"How about we blend in for a bit, hm?"
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Feb 16, 2013 19:58:22 GMT -5
Enuyu couldn't help it. The feeling crept up from her gut and built until it had to be let out. She laughed. She laughed long and loud and from deep in her gut, and it took her several long moments to calm down. When she finally did there was an enormous grin dominating her features.
"I can! I can blend in!"
She chuckled a couple more times.
"Though I guess I'm not doing a very good job of it right now."
It was a bit of an effort, but she finally brought herself entirely under control and composed her features to something resembling neutrality, even if there was still an uptick to the corners of her mouth.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis' eyebrows went up. The laughter, raucous, wild, and he had to admit; infectious took over his companion for little reason that he could see. It certainly transformed her face, though, and he couldn't help but smile back.
"I only meant to suggest that following a small group might give us cover should anyone be behind us. Not that I think they are, mind you..."
His voice came to a halt slowly. She had stopped laughing and the tiny smile that appeared on her face was even more appealing than the laughter. It hinted at things; the type of things one might share with a friend.
Diegis was something of a lone wolf, not that he ever described himself that way. He had several friends in his village. But, he did often spend leisure time alone. When arriving in Tangaia he had hoped to come across his nephew in the first couple of ports. They would head home and pay tribute to Tisia with a death howl. What might happen after that he did not plan.
But, his nephew proved elusive and as more and more time past Diegis grew, if not lonely, homesick. This world was nothing like his homeland and he missed the wild sweep of land. He also missed the company of his friends. Something he did not realize would happen until it occurred.
He glanced at Enuyu again and the tiny smile on her face.
"Tell me about this blending in bit, and why it makes you laugh so much."
Perhaps he had found a new friend.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Feb 17, 2013 12:25:22 GMT -5
Enuyu took up residence at Diegis' side again, perhaps a bit closer than she had earlier, and kept pace with him there. The little grin wouldn't go away, but it felt comfortable on her face so she didn't fight it. He'd trusted in her judgment when he reacted to the change of her voice. That made her feel good, so she answered his question as best she could without actually handing him the most important details of what made it funny to her.
"See these green eyes of mine? Where I come from everyone has black hair and some variation of brown eyes. Everyone. But me. I've got the black hair, but these eyes stick out like a cow in a stable. I've never been able to blend in until now."
And that was the truth, if not the entirety of it.
The little knot of people they'd joined up with headed towards a somewhat busier district, and it wasn't long before a destination became apparent. There was an inn just ahead. The sign hung from the second story and depicted an angry looking blue bull. The outside looked fairly clean and in good repair. It might be just the place to have a meal and put her head down for the night.
The consequences of that dampened the little grin and put a more pensive look on her. She liked Diegis, but she didn't want to get a room with him; not yet anyway. On the other hand she didn't want to lose track of him either, didn't want him at another inn. She wanted to make sure she could find him again. The Menagerie, yes; if he didn't choose to stay here she'd get him to meet her there sometime tomorrow.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis gave Enuyu another look. He did not stare. Instead it was one of those searching gazes that made you wonder if the person looking at you was trying to see inside your head. Several people crowded past them into the Sapphire Ox and he continued to watch her.
The snap of a buggy whip broke his concentration or caused him to notice what he was doing. He shook his head and ran quick fingers over his shaggy bangs while the carriage driver took control of his horse. Diegis wasn't sure if his next words would be appropriate or not. His sister had been a prickly sort. She had eventually gotten handfasted and had a child. But, you did not compliment her on anything beyond her spear work without getting your ears blistered.
The girl in front of him was a brand new acquaintance, and could perchance become a friend. He abruptly realized damaging that possibility would cause him no small amount of grief.
Still...
"They are beautiful; your eyes. Like polished jade."
He did not say anything else. He wasn't sure he could.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Feb 18, 2013 13:23:25 GMT -5
For a moment she wasn't sure she'd heard what she did. But she had. And for a longer moment she didn't know what to do about it. It'd been so long since anyone had paid her that sort of compliment that she'd forgotten her manners. The remembered voice of her mother reminded her to pay a compliment with thanks and a compliment of ones own.
"Thank you. You cut a handsome figure yourself."
She wasn't even aware of the color that was starting to rise on her cheeks. Though some imp of mischief chose to remind her that Diegis was handsome, and she could do worse, and she hadn't even been hugged in over two years.
She clamped down on those thoughts before she could picture herself tangled up... Or maybe she didn't. The color on her cheeks rose a bit with the libertine thought, and the only distraction she could come up with was to grab Diegis's sleeve and pull him into the inn.
"Come on. We need food and rooms."
Yes. Food would distract her; and they should definitely have separate rooms. No complicating things. Just friends. She needed a friend. And doing other things; well she wasn't sure if she'd break down and cry for the joy of it and look like some needy teen with serious issues or devour him like some hungry animal in heat. No, she'd have none of that.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis stumbled but somehow managed to stay on his feet while being tugged inside. Well, at least she did not hit you upside the head fool. His mind was always way too happy to berate him for mistakes. Was it a mistake? How could it be when she had thanked him and offered a compliment as well?
Shut up and follow her.
It wasn't near so easy to take his brain's advice. Not the part that told him to shut up anyway. A thousand questions roamed around the maze of his confused mind.
Food and rooms. Rooms. Plural. A good idea.
Diegis took a breath and dragged in some foul smelling smoke from the pair of men standing beside the door. He stopped trying to figure out what was in his mind, or in places lower than that, to follow Enuyu.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Feb 18, 2013 18:46:58 GMT -5
What followed was fortunately very mundane. The Sapphire Ox was bustling but not overcrowded. There were both food and rooms to be had. The meal was some sort of thick stew, ladled out of the large communal cauldron that hung over the fire. Seating was also communal, several benches shared several tables. The bread was fresh and taken from an oven that was cunningly crafted into the brickwork of the chimney. Ale and wine were the most common drinks, and accompanied by a hard, slightly sweet cheese.
It wasn't the sort of fare Enuyu was used to, but it filled her up, took the edge off the day, and left her ready to retire to her room. Of course, compared to the provisions aboard ship it might as well have been heavenly ambrosia.
The rooms were small, but clean. The bed was neatly made, and for a small fee she indulged in purchasing a warming pan to heat things up a bit. She stowed her pack where the chances of it being stolen were least likely. She drifted off to sleep feeling more pleasant than she had in a long time. She had all the reason in the world to be optimistic. Her troubles should be behind her. It looked like she was making a friend in Diegis. She had ready coin. Wistvale seemed a good place to be.
Sleep was deep, dreamless and restful.
(the end, unless Diegis would like to add anything)
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.