"Ah, I see. Well, then it's a give and take relationship then. I'll protect you from the fighting, and you'll protect me from my wounds, unless this means that you can hold your own in a fight. Also, i'm curious. How do you know where to go?"
"Well, if we're going to travel together for an extended period of time, I'd like to get to know you. However, I'll introduce myself a little. I am the son of a blacksmith, and so I was raised in the forge, battering hot steel into weaponry for the nation. I myself continue to forge weapons, but more as a hobby. These two shields on my back are of my own design, and I'm hoping to test them out in the dead zone."
Kirin's face hardened when he mentioned the nation.
His attempts to catch her eyes failed as she looked down at his weapons. She unfolded her arms slowly and gently ran her fingertips along the metal, "it looks so... calm."
"Compared to some of the weapons other soldiers in my class use, yes, it is rather tame. It is a part of my fighting style. Though it does help me from... getting carried away..."
Aene remained silent for a few awkward seconds before Irio knocked on the door loudly, "is everyone decent? I don't want to walk in on anything I don't want to see." His sarcasm was apparent, though Aene said nothing in reply as her cheeks slowly went pink.
Irio jumped into the room with a girl on his arm. She was shorter and busty with long brown hair. She was not attractive like Aene was, but was more attractive in the sense that if you saw her in a bar, you'd by her a drink and hope she would meet you in the bathroom. Clearly, this girl was more social than Aene as she offered her hand to Kirin, "hi, I'm Ithys or Iyth if we ever become a bit more intimate."
As usual, Aene watched the other girl with a wary eye but her demeanour gave nothing away. Aene was a great puzzle, the kind that you could spend hours trying to unlock and never getting anywhere but also never losing interest. Irio replied with a husky laugh, startling Kirin out of his trance, "well now we start heading out. Time is money and I don't have enough of either. I'll explain the rest on the way."
Irio and Ithys walked ahead, gently pushing one another and moving in ways that meant one thing; extreme flirting between two people who were very good at doing so. Aene walked beside Kirin taking long, elegant strides that gave her an almost mystical quality. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't help but notice her long,slender legs... as well as that she shot fleeting a glance at him every few paces.
"What foolery have I gotten myself into," he mumbled.
He looked over at Aene and he knew that he had fallen head over heels for her. Kirin let out a heavy sigh and continued to walk next to her, matching her pace.
"For one thing, it shades my face from the harsh sunlight. Another reason is that it hides much of my facial features, making me harder to read. The last is that it absorbs sweat, and in a fight, sweat can fall into your eyes, momentarily distracting you. Any kind of distraction could lead to my death. I'm curious, is it strange to you?"
Aene wordlessly shook her head, "just wondering. I thought it was because you were trying to hide..." Even though the girl was looking forward, Kirin could see in her a desire to be wrapped in cloth, hiding herself from the harshness of the world.
Aene looked up at him with fire in her eyes as she jolted away from him. She didn't have to say anything for him to know that he overstepped his boundaries and that any contact with her would have to have her consent and not be spontaneous, regardless of its intent.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Kirin stammered.
He couldn't believe he had forgotten who he was talking to. Kirin mentally slapped himself. Otherwise, he kept his composure. Realizing that he had forgot to survey their surroundings, he made a quick check to see who and what was around him, and if anyone looked suspicious.
In the busy streets, everyone looked suspicious but proved to be no real threat. Irio turned around and winked at Kirin, "so I say we should get a good night's sleep before we leave. What do you say we get a couple of rooms for the night on our way out of town?"
Irio led them to a large hotel, one that Kirin had seen on the outskirts of town but had never stayed in. It was a low but long building that was decorated in classic fashion but was elegant in many ways. The torch lamps flickered as they entered the lobby. An attractive woman was at the desk and Irio left the others behind. After some inaudible whispers and many giggles, Irio returned with two keys, "alright, who's staying with who? I could only get 2 rooms..."
"Ah, I see. Well, then it's a give and take relationship then. I'll protect you from the fighting, and you'll protect me from my wounds, unless this means that you can hold your own in a fight. Also, i'm curious. How do you know where to go?"
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"Well, if we're going to travel together for an extended period of time, I'd like to get to know you. However, I'll introduce myself a little. I am the son of a blacksmith, and so I was raised in the forge, battering hot steel into weaponry for the nation. I myself continue to forge weapons, but more as a hobby. These two shields on my back are of my own design, and I'm hoping to test them out in the dead zone."
Kirin's face hardened when he mentioned the nation.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"Careful with the end of the shield. It contains a blade."
He maintained eye contact as long as possible.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Kirin looks up towards the ceiling in thought.
OOC: Brandon?
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"Irio, you damn joker, get in here."
Kirin could't help but turn a bit pink. He picked up his shields on the ground and brushes them off.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"Kirin, nice to meet you."
He turns to Irio.
"Well, the group's all here. What next?"
Kirin strapped his shields to his back. He watches Aene to see her reaction towards Ithys.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"Erm, alright, let's get going."
Kirin replaces his wrapping as they walk out into the harsh heat.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"What foolery have I gotten myself into," he mumbled.
He looked over at Aene and he knew that he had fallen head over heels for her. Kirin let out a heavy sigh and continued to walk next to her, matching her pace.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
"For one thing, it shades my face from the harsh sunlight. Another reason is that it hides much of my facial features, making me harder to read. The last is that it absorbs sweat, and in a fight, sweat can fall into your eyes, momentarily distracting you. Any kind of distraction could lead to my death. I'm curious, is it strange to you?"
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Kirin placed his hand gently on her shoulder as a reassuring gesture.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
He couldn't believe he had forgotten who he was talking to. Kirin mentally slapped himself. Otherwise, he kept his composure. Realizing that he had forgot to survey their surroundings, he made a quick check to see who and what was around him, and if anyone looked suspicious.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Kirin looked at his feet as they walked, shaking his head at his mistake.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Kirin secretly hoped Irio would go for Ithys, leaving Aene with him. He didn't want Irio to be left unsatisfied.