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Post by opius on Aug 8, 2022 23:05:54 GMT -5
"Floren..." He paused. "Oh! The marini family from the ship- right..." His brows went high. "Goodness, you must have really hit it off with the guy if you shared something so intimate!" He laughed.
"I suppose the whole family was really charming. Now I'm wondering what I missed out on hanging with Davrim during all of that. Not that I regret it- the number of elves out there who get me is... well it's a very small pool." He nodded.
As they went on, alastair took some breads and cheeses, dry sausage and the like. He was told he had to eat and he wasn't about to argue. Since adventuring his appetite had grown... Somewhat. He chuckled at her question. "Well, I wouldn't say I'm ugly. Just quite plain. Pale and freckled, not very tall, not very wide. My teeth aren't so great and my ears are kinda goofy- like when a kid's face hasn't grown to match all of their parts, except I did grow and they still don't match. Were I born a gnome I think I'd be quite handsome, but for a human I'm... A little below average, I'd estimate." He glanced upward.
"It's a shame I didn't get as vibrant red hair as Alain... Mine's nice, but it's not as rich like him or like Sae. I guess he owes me more things than I thought."
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 9, 2022 11:13:27 GMT -5
Yeah, she must have... Konane started taking what food was being offered for the evening, breads, cheeses, meats... stews. It was all quite good, but not as good as her own cooking. She supposed they didn't have much for spices here, or just liked things a little on the bland side.
The waffles though, were wonderful. Those she would miss.
"There's nothing wrong with being a little plain. I like your hair, and I think your crooked teeth add to your charm. Your... uneven smile, your unmatched eyes... You have your own... attractiveness."
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Post by opius on Aug 9, 2022 20:44:11 GMT -5
Alastair laughed and glanced back at Konane with a little cock of his fuzzy brows. "That's... flattering. You're wrong, but it's nice to hear." His laughter subsided after a few moments as he took his tray to a table, Konane in tow.
"I suppose it's like one of those ugly dogs with the scrunched faces. The ones who are so oddly shaped that they're cute." He couldn't help but grin a little.
"I don't mind being plain, though. The differences between us keep things interesting. I'm glad you find me... Charming? It's not a thing I hear often. It's nice."
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 9, 2022 21:05:45 GMT -5
"You're a lot nicer than the boys at home. All they want to do is make me their wife." Konane stuck her tongue out, lips curled back.
"They are all foolish. You? You can make things! Useful things. You made this ring in no time at all!" And she held her hand up, the fox ring fitting snuggly on her finger.
"And you are very smart. I have learned so much from just listening to you."
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Post by opius on Aug 9, 2022 21:39:40 GMT -5
He laughed. "Well, I did go to college." He tugged on his coat's collar with a little wiggle of his shoulders and chin.
"I think it's a matter of priorities. The boys you're used to put creating a family first, rather than a craft or study or other passion... If you'd found yourself a craftsman at home, maybe you'd enjoy their company better than the 'foolish' boys you're used to. I think the fact that we've been thrown together kind of... Forced us to get to know people much different than we'd normally be around. Gunslingers? Mercenaries? Never in a hundred years would I think I'd be breaking bread with folks like that- let alone calling them my best friends. Yet here we are!"
He took a bite of bread, mouth half full as he continued to talk. "Horizons broadened, along with our capacity for trauma."
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 9, 2022 21:46:33 GMT -5
And yet, he was so stupid. But it was a good stupid. How far could she get away with this? Maybe it wasn't a good idea...
"Fate is funny like that. But... Trauma... Well, I have heard it brings people together if they suffer through it together." She frowned some, sitting across from him and picking at her food. More to decide what she wanted to eat first.
"For now, we are relaxing for as long as we can, before we must fight again."
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Post by opius on Aug 9, 2022 21:54:45 GMT -5
"So long as we've got eachother's backs, we can get through and come out stronger." He pumped his fist. "Like a Dwarven shield wall, weathering the storm." He swallowed hard and wiped his mouth.
"But for today, we eat and rest like Halflings, and entertain ourselves like Gnomes. Enjoy a slice of the domestic life and take part in a little bit of normalcy. And moonshine."
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 9, 2022 22:00:41 GMT -5
"Normalcy and moonshine." She smiled, and ripped off a hunk of bread, placing a slice of cheese and meat onto it, and dipping it into her stew.
"And a hot bath. Magic transformation does not get rid of the grime I have on my skin... The oil in my hair." And she took a bite.
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Post by opius on Aug 9, 2022 22:06:38 GMT -5
He laughed. "Magic isn't perfect. That's where practical science comes in. And perfumes to cover the rest." He grinned and took another bite.
"A hot spring does sound delightful. I've only been in a heated bath... But I've heard of things like mineral baths that are great for the skin, and piping hot springs in the cold north. What kind of spring do you suppose this one will be like?" He tilted his head. "Oh! Otori's pretty earthy crunchy too. Do you have hot springs or heated basins? Magical ones like in Astor? What's the bath-culture like up there?" He laughed over the genuine absurdity of his sudden interest.
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 10, 2022 17:31:02 GMT -5
Konane blinked at the questions about hot springs and heated basins. She smiled, and nodded. "We have hot spring fed bath houses in the mountains. But the local, community bath houses are heated with hot coals and wood, not too different from the one in Kel'Mar, but I think they used Aether stones to heat their water. In Otori, soaking in a hot bath is a social bonding experience. Sae's people have adopted that, which is fitting for them."
"I have mentioned it before, called "skinship." Your bond with someone, exposing yourself when you are most vulnerable, is a sign that you trust one another."
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Post by opius on Aug 11, 2022 14:59:56 GMT -5
He laughed. "So there's a name for it, skinship." He placed another cut of sausage in his mouth- still somewhat clumsy and not quite free of the buzz running through his system. "It's a cute term- gives it a shape and a meaning. I know bathing and nudity and... all that-" he waved a hand somewhat dismissively, "-is great teambuilding. Exposing yourself and being comfortable, it's all really one big trust exercise." He nodded, rolling the hand as he glanced down, processing it, pontificating at this point.
"I had a few hangups initially because it was so darn different. I feel terrible making Sae so embarrassed the first time- did you know she came to me after? Actually apologized, something about taking secrets and all that. I was floored that she cared so much. I still feel super weird for putting her in that position in the first place! Imagine that, my momentary hangup set her day on a whole different course." He shook his head.
"And now it's just like. Welp, I guess we're skinny dipping in a hot spring as if we were all a bunch of weird cousins. Boggles my mind how we got here, and it boggles me further just how closed off and spooked I used to be."
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 11, 2022 18:24:10 GMT -5
Konane smiled, dunking more bread into her stew. "I am sorry, I made her realize that most everywhere it is... gendered. Bath houses have a men's, and women's side, while family ones are separated. When I saw say try to peek, I thought she was being rude- I did not realize it was all... open with the Mareki. But, I think mixing hers and mine, we have come to being very comfortable around one another."
She took a bite of her soggy sandwich, and chewed a bit before swallowing and continuing. "We have all changed quite a bit from who we started out. I think it helps that we are all open minded, and accepting to these ideas and things."
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Post by opius on Aug 11, 2022 21:56:18 GMT -5
"well, sink or swim, right?" He finished his bread and propped his chin up with an elbow on the table. "Either we were bound to get used to eachother, or we were bound to split up. And I don't think splitting up would have been good for any of us."
He shrugged. "I appreciate you coming to my defense, though I absolutely overreacted in retrospect. Thinking back, it was pretty funny." He chuckled.
"Im looking forward to having a hot soak. And maybe letting you or Sae brush my hair, because gods know you'll try." He glanced away. "... It's fun being chased a little here and there. Maybe I did inherit a little mischief."
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Post by CautionCat on Aug 11, 2022 22:03:41 GMT -5
"I think I overreacted a little, too... And yes, I will brush your hair. Not because it makes you look nice, but because it feels good!"
She grinned, eyes squinting some. "You are full of mischief. I don't think we would get along if you were not. And if you like being chased like the squirrel you are, I will chase you. It is only natural for a fox to chase cute squirrelly things." She stuck her tongue out, making raspberries.
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Post by opius on Aug 12, 2022 22:54:43 GMT -5
He chuckled. "It does feel nice! The whole... Scalp area, in fact. Doesn't feel the same when I do it, but maybe I'll make a fancy brush like yours for myself..."
As she went on about squirrels his ears flushed slightly with an embarrassment he couldn't... Quite? Place? He pursed his lips and blew a bit of a huff. "A squirrel, am I? I suppose it only makes sense. I guess I've got my work cut out for me, adding dodging you to the arrows and swords I'm already avoiding. Should be fun." He laughed again.
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