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Random Encounter Story

Posted by Neverwashere 
Random Encounter Story
April 16, 2012 10:37PM
She chuckled, closing her eyes, and said two words in her mothertongue. "Means 'I love you'."
Random Encounter Story
April 16, 2012 10:48PM
He raised his eyebrows, digested the two words and then repeated them almost perfectly. The intonation may have been a bit off, but not by much. Then he said something in addition -- a language Sylvie had heard at the shrine. It was three little words, indeed. He looked at her, one brow still cocked, hint of a smile trying to show up on his face.
Random Encounter Story
April 16, 2012 11:08PM
"Um." She wiggled a little nervously - that hadn't been meant as a challenge! - but took a deep breath. She gave repeating the sounds a stab, and hoped she didn't butcher them too badly.
Random Encounter Story
April 16, 2012 11:19PM
He smiled and tilted his head. "No worries, love. Just sharing how I'd have said it."
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:05AM
She sighed, sounding maybe just a litte exasperated, and said with a wry smile, "Everybody's allowed to be silly sometimes." <em>Particularly when baited.</em>
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:07AM
"You'll get no disagreement from me," he said leisurely, closed his eyes and took another deep, lazy breath. The words 'back to work' were not likely to come out of him for a while.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:19AM
For a while Sylvie just enjoyed the quiet and closeness. She had forgotten what being able to truly let your guard down in front of someone felt like. It was a huge relief.

However... "We should probably see about food at some point."
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:22AM
His eyes opened. Yes, there was that, but for similar reasons as Sylvie, he somehow saw it as a crying shame. Still, better to make the best of it, Sebastian mused. "Hmm-m. I know I worked up an appetite." Pause. "Right now?"
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:28AM
"Mhm. Soon?" There was work waiting, too. <em>Dammit, I don't want to be sensible.</em>
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:29AM
"I'll count to three hundred."
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 09:32AM
That got a chuckle and a peck on the tip of his nose.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 11:42AM
A more persistent fit of giggles ensued a little later, when it turned out that between Sylvie leaving her gear at Old Ivy, and Sebastian leaving his worldly possessions in Auker's kitchen, they were again stranded without a comb. They made do, anyway.

By the time they'd turned out passable, it was quite late for lunch, but House Crow had some fish soup left, and on the upside there were plenty of seats free. The conversation in the common room was, unsurprisingly, focused on the weather change.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 11:59AM
Still amused by their constant lack of combs, Sebastian chose a seat close to the door, back toward the wall. It wasn't nerves, just deeply ingrained in his behaviour and habits. His ears twitched a little when words concerning the weather reached them; the half-elf had looked happy coming down the stairs, at least, and now there was a bit of smug relief to add to that.

But it wasn't all smugness. He plonked his plate down and pulled a chair for Sylvie, eyeing the common room and listening to the murmurs of other people. It was hard to separate individual conversations, but he nonetheless categorised them into relief, some astonishment at how the rain had been so rough, grumblings about damages and some other things.

He tilted his head and thought for a while, utterly forgetting his hands were on the backrest of Sylvie's chair.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 12:07PM
She tugged on his sleeve and tilted her head towards the free seat to remind him to sit down.

"What're you thinking about?"
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 12:12PM
That snapped him out of it. "Oh. Heh." He claimed his seat, eyebrows knit together in a thoughtful, not at all worried look. "The aftermath. I mean, it feels good to know you've just nearly solved a problem and made it somewhat better, but..."
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 12:24PM
"...then there are loose ends." Getting a full list back to mind might take a bit. She would be cross if the clergy didn't take over some of it.

When she tasted the soup, which was a bit thin, but not too bad in all, she realised it had been quite a while since her last warm meal.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 12:29PM
"There are those," he admitted, content with just having had something to eat. Urges and how they waged war on each other had, after all, made him forget all about his need for food. Blood sugar as well as that other high were doing nasty things to his sense of space and messing with his thoughts. Still, he finished his meal and tried to mentally prepare himself for an immediate exit if need be.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 12:39PM
Sylvie had had a better breakfast, but did not try to talk things out in detail in a public room full of strangers, likewise concentrating on the food.

When they were finished, she asked, "So, back to the shrine now, or...?"
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 01:16PM
He gave a sigh and stretched. "Probably for the best. Maybe there's something to learn there," he said intentionally vaguely, avoiding details. Flexing his neck muscles, Sebastian stood up. "Or did you have something in mind?" he asked her curiously as they were fully out in the sunshine and puddles again.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 02:09PM
"First thing I could think of, hoping to hear of a decision..." She took his arm and leaned in close so she could lower her voice. "And if they went back to supporting a raid, I'll damn well find a way to make them line up their necks with their voices. Can you imagine Ramend facing off against any guard?"
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 03:05PM
"With bribes, just not with those sticks he thinks are his arms," Sebastian answered softly, plotting a route for the shrine. "I once heard a joke that business men can carry either their weight in ownership papers or gold. Anything else and they can't life for damn. But yes, I hope they won't be thinking of that course of action."
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 03:16PM
Sylvie chuckled. "The richest traders are the ones who hold most owed favours, they say back home."

Ludovic, now, that was a problem she didn't want to discuss on the open street, even quietly.
Random Encounter Story
April 17, 2012 03:58PM
"That rings true in many ways," Sebastian added. "But then again, I also heard one similar about students. It was books and beer, though. Wine if they were rich brats, but hah. Just goes to show. There's a joke about most things." They rounded a corner, where Sebastian smiled as he watched a cart go past slowly, people sitting on stairs and basking, smoking or drinking various beverages. Souls, milling about. The city was indeed coming back to life.

So was the gambling hall, he mused as they passed it.
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:02PM
Sylvie realised she had never seen this street not in the rain before today. After the previous visits under conditions more likely to keep people inside, people loitering about and watching passers-by, including them, them felt odd.

It worried her for a moment that the carriage was apparently gone, but then, that was probably a good sign; it probably meant the assembled clergy had made some decision, and the Old Lady's had left.
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:06PM
"Looks like the general's put the boys to work," Sebastian muttered as he nodded toward where the carriage was, knitting his eyebrows together. He looked a little wistful now, but carried on walking into the alley. Just before they reached the backdoor to Auker's booze lair, he hesitated for a moment but then took a slow step onward.
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:22PM
On the way Sylvie asked, "Which one is the general?"

"Auker."

Well, that would have been her second guess.

Once they were inside and Sylvie's eyes had adjusted to the relative gloom, she saw that Auker, Jon and, a slight surprise, Kord remained. And that Ayu-Asra was trying to arrange Sebastian's belongings in a more compact heap. The latter sight drew a quiet groan from her.
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:37PM
Auker had helpfully (or not) added one of her rings to the pile, and was watching the dragon as she spoke, only nodding at the two of them. "-- so, basically, whatever those two are up to with their so-called conferences with their own folk, we'd best make some plans," she was saying to Kord. Jon appeared half-asleep, smiling at the new arrivals.

Kord hrrmphed and turned to look at Sylvie and Sebastian, squinting. Auker raised her eyebrows and smirked a little. "Well. Decent... eatings?"

Badly wanting to ignore that, Sebastian looked first at the dragon and then at the three others. And again at the hoard. "Greedy little thing," he said, not entirely unamused. "Yes, the food was passable." Aware that his hair was still a little messy and that Auker had a certain gleam in her eyes, he looked about. "So, they went to negotiate with their business associates?"

"Yup," Auker confirmed. "I thought it wise that Kord send his boys off real quick after that. They might get some ideas of their own about those shiny crystals."
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:49PM
Sylvie had no problem ignoring Auker's innuendo. She'd had practise, and besides, the dragon provided a distraction. When she walked up to the table, staring at him with narrowed eyes, he curled up, splayed his crests, and hissed from both throats. She paused, hands on the edge of the table, and kept staring at him.

It was no surprise at least that Robare had to negotiate, particularly after seeing him next to Jon. Seniority he had nod. As she blinked away at the thought that the Jackites might have sent him because he was expendable, the dragon trilled in triumph at having won the staredow. His right head angled for the little anti-chicken amulet to pull it closer, while the other kept watch of Sylvie.

She couldn't help but ask, "And what will happen with those in the long run?" regretting it even before anyone said anything.
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:53PM
"I'd like to know the same thing," Sebastian said, glancing slowly at Kord.

Apparently, this question had been expected. Sighing, Kord only said: "We're going to have to hide them. Bury them."

"And not use them, ever?"

Kord glared daggers at Sebastian. "You think me that dumb? I'd probably get zapped by lightning or eaten by a bunch of rabid squirrels if I did something that stupid."

"Good man. Just checking," the half-elf said with a sharp grin, staring back at him. "I'll let you decide, then, if it were safer to have Brannig, for instance, destroy them after he's seen them. He might be a good expert witness, after all."
Random Encounter Story
April 19, 2012 09:59PM
Sylvie straightened up and nodded. If it was normal for artifacts here to be that loaded, rather than a result of a lone genius, someone actually trained in this school might know if there was a way to safely destroy them. Unconsciously she had started rubbing her hands, and wrists along her pulse.
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