|
Post by Tristan on Apr 6, 2007 23:20:35 GMT -5
For all his brave words, Tristan scared fairly easy - it was the running away part that he never could seem to figure out. Usually it was for the wrong reasons, but he always held his ground, and he was glad this time. He gave her a rather serious look, if for nothing else to acknowledge that he'd respect that advice... but he just couldn't help a faint chuckle afterwards. "The first time I tried alcohol, I kissed my sister." This particular fact was filed into his stack of "embarassing secrets that will only be divulged under threat of death" a long time ago, but it felt appropriate for the moment. He had to laugh at how stupid he was being. "Just thought I should tell you... you're worth warning." He smiled - oh, how he smiled.
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 7, 2007 22:16:40 GMT -5
Syn could not hold back her laughter, a sound that was surprisingly melodic and more than easy on the ears. She cleared her throat, though, ending the sound, and smiled behind her hand, which rested sideways in front of her mouth, elbow on the table. "Well, that certainly is a good reason to abstain from the tap," she said, nodding. There was a mirth in her eyes, and for a moment, she was as friendly as any other living being..
It was strange and uncomfortable to her, someone who was so often full of rage..
"You're an interesting man, Tristan," she said, leaning back in her seat and not sparing the little waitress a second glance as she brought their drinks, fairly quickly, yet in good time. "Had I a home, I might be like other people and tell you you're welcome there anytime."
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 7, 2007 22:49:39 GMT -5
It was so curious, seeing her laugh. Seemed that he wasn't the only person who walked away from that battlefield just to see their expectations dashed in front of them. He simply enjoyed the moment until it passed, nodding to the waitress as she dropped off their order. Payment could come later. Although he couldn't imagine himself thinking this before, he hoped that they had a good amount of night left ahead of them here.
"I'm kind of in the same boat, I guess. Not as severe. I could technically go home... but it never really felt like that to me. Besides, it's really cold out there, and my parents would probably never be able to shoulder the shame of their neglected son palling around with a Nymandine woman. No offense. They're not the most accepting type. They barely consider me a son because I won't wear goofy clothes and get drunk and pretend that I can see the future..." He sighed wistfully, dipping his finger into the cool water and finding himself pleased at the sensation. "What was your home like? How long ago was that?"
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 9, 2007 19:55:31 GMT -5
Syn tilted her head, elbows on the table as she ran a blue-black fingertip along the outer rim of the glass. A sort of distance came to her eyes as he asked her questions of her home, her past.. How long ago had that been..?
"My home.." she began slowly, eyes not seeing him at the moment, seeing instead her home from long ago. Remembering.. So much light.. so much blood.. Betrayal.. Lies.. "It was many years ago, when I had a home. I am not so sure I remember everything about it." A lie, but one that wouldn't hurt him if things went badly. "My mother was very kind.. She never harmed another living creature, and even spoke out against such violence. Her words were never heard, though, as you can imagine.. I.. had a brother, but he passed on long before I left."
She took a drink of her juice, a strange look about her that told of an unwillingness to continue. She could not lie easily to Tristan about everything, now could she?
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 9, 2007 20:35:40 GMT -5
All he could think about was that a thousand years was a long time to have bad things happen to you. He kind of got a sense of that from his companion, and didn't feel it necessary to push her for further details. His past might be pathetic, but it wasn't terribly painful. He could only imagine that Syn's was. Seemingly content with toying with his water, he lifted his fingers from it, sucking the drops off of them absently. "It's probably hard to remember after such a long time. I'm sure I couldn't do it... not that I can live that long, but still."
After a brief moment of shuffling thoughts around in his head looking for a conversation piece, he raised his eyes to her own and raised a brow. "Where's your home now?"
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 9, 2007 21:56:46 GMT -5
Syn allowed a faint smile to cross her lips, genuine, lacking danger.. Real. This was a topic she rather liked; the present instead of the past. "I have no real home," she said, shrugging. "The world in its entirety is my home. Rarely do Slainte and I go too far North.. I imagine you understand why. Sometimes, if the pay is good, we'll go, and I'll bundle up, but it has to be some really good damn pay for that."
She seemed fond of travelling, if the way she spoke was any hint at all. She was a brash, crude being, but yet she spoke with such eloquence that one could make a few guesses as to her past, whether they be right or wrong. Yet, even with that, it was clear that she very much enjoyed travelling.. Anywhere away from Iodar was good enough for her.
"And you? Where do you live now?"
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 10, 2007 0:25:13 GMT -5
"Nowhere, really. I make enough to not have to worry about sleeping outside, but that's about it. I guess I'm just hoping that eventually I'll catch the big one, and then maybe my parents will hear about it..." He glanced over at her, looking a little grim and finally taking a drink of his water. "I know it's petty and kind of stupid, but I guess I just want them to see that I can make something of myself without their help." He set his glass down and laughed a bit, tracing a finger along one of the many worn lines in the table. "I guess we've got more than just a job in common, though it might just come with the territory. How about you? Probably world famous..."
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 10, 2007 15:48:41 GMT -5
Syn snorted in a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "Yeah right," she said. "If people know me by name, it's only because I've been around for over a milennia. Otherwise, I'm just some rogue Nymandine, out to slaughter, rape, and maim."
She almost smiled at that, but found less amusement in it than anything else. "There is nothing wrong with wanting to prove that you can do something on your own. Our situations are a bit different, and by a bit, I mean a lot, but I can understand what you mean," she said, nodding. "For me.. I simply want to prove that I am not the bloodthirsty killer that my father made me into. End of story."
And truly, that was the end of that story. She would speak no more of her father. "What you want is not to make something of yourself, but to live, and to show that you can live and exist without depending on another. That is one of the most noble causes I have ever encountered."
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 10, 2007 20:06:23 GMT -5
Well, that was unexpected. He even felt that his "cause" was sort of petty, and certainly didn't expect Syn to praise it, much less validate such a motivation. Still, it was welcome, because he didn't really get much support in this kind of thing... being a loner did that sometimes. "Thanks, I guess. Personally, I thought it was sort of childish..." He blushed and looked down at his water, which was nearly gone by this point. He cleared his throat, raised a hand to tuck some of his white-gold hair behind a pointed ear, and finished off the rest.
He set down the glass just hard enough that the sound would catch the maid's attention, who was chatting away with the keep... probably about the odd pair of customers. He grumbled quietly and turned his eyes back to the Nymandine. "Where do you go from here, then? More riding around aimlessly, looking for wanted posters or distressed peasants or what have you? That's what I usually do."
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 10, 2007 20:23:31 GMT -5
Syn shrugged, the tip of her finger tracing the lip of the glass again, creating a melodic sound. "Dunno.." she said. "Usually, I just ride whichever direction calls me, and then either freelance or hire myself out for respectable jobs. I have no immediate need for ka, so either is fine for me."
He'd thought his own goals childish? Never would Syn call them that. Goals were something that the owner truly desired, and desires were never childish. Wants, on the other hand, were fairly childish. But needs, and desires.. Never.
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 10, 2007 20:36:54 GMT -5
"Well..." That faint hint of rose came back to his cheeks, and he ducked his head when the barmaid refilled his water - she'd been giving them enough strange looks tonight, and he certainly didn't want her listening on this. Once she was gone, he sighed and gripped his glass, biting his lip as he looked at her. "We could... you know... do something together. I'm not sure what, but I'm here, and... you're here. People like us don't get these sorts of opportunities very often."
He could only pray that he didn't come off as being too forward. Syn had turned out to be strangely good company, but he still felt that she might go berserk on him if she ever sensed that he was coming onto her. Gods, was he? He didn't think so, but she was rather good looking... in that exotic, Nymandine way...
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 10, 2007 21:57:19 GMT -5
The Nymandine considered this, tilting her head and frowning slightly, not in distaste, but purely in thought. Some people stuck out their tongues when they thought, she frowned. Simple. "Perhaps," she said eventually. "Yet I ask you to understand that I am one who is used to having a lot of space. You'll have to forgive me if I get.. snarky. I'll try to play nice, but it'll take me a little getting used to, is all."
Gods, wasn't that the truth..
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 10, 2007 22:11:32 GMT -5
Alright, so he'd gotten her to accept... kind of. Now, what exactly had he gotten her acceptance for? He found himself enjoying her company, and simply wanted to extended that, even though he had no real idea how. Perhaps they could take a stroll? Get dinner? Share a room? Gods, what had he been thinking? She'd have his head by the end of the night. Best plan would probably be to talk her out of it...
"Um... actually, Syn... maybe..." He blinked and stopped. This woman didn't think him a coward, even though that's what he really was... didn't think his aims petty, even if that's all they are. Why would he dare pushing her away? Why couldn't he be as bold as he'd always wanted to be with her? His gaze focused for a moment and he grinned. "When was the last time you danced?"
|
|
Syn
Novice
Devilsbane
Posts: 75
|
Post by Syn on Apr 11, 2007 6:49:51 GMT -5
Genuine surprise marked the Nymandine woman's face as Tristan asked about dancing, finding that she most definitely had not expected it. Syn tilted her head then, thought a moment (slight frown included), and then shrugged. "Not since I left home, I'm sure.." she replied. "That was quite some time ago."
And now, intrigue and a slight hint of her mysteriousness marked her, a slight grin on her face. "Why do you ask?" She had a mild idea, yet would wait for Tristan's answer. Strangely, she did not want to look like a presumptuous arse in front of him. Maybe it was because they understood each other..? Well, to an extent, at any rate.
|
|
|
Post by Tristan on Apr 11, 2007 17:48:39 GMT -5
Tristan shrugged one shoulder, watching her reactions carefully. "Just curious. It's been a while since I've had a chance, but I'm pretty good. My mother used to say that dancing was the easiest way to sweep a girl off her feet, and since you didn't seem all that impressed with my fighting earlier..." He stuck his tongue out playfully, returning his attention to the water. It was true, for the most part - he'd be really rusty, but he was taught to dance by his parents a long, long time before he realized how foolish their lifestyle was. It was fun, easy, something to do... and a small part of him still believed that his mother was right about that, not that it had ever worked for him.
|
|