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Post by Trebias on Apr 5, 2008 10:14:34 GMT -5
El thought for a moment she wasn’t going to reply, and her tone suggested he might be out of line. He would really have to look back into these people skills he kept hearing about.
He tried to quickly recover the situation. “Ah, pretty busy, are you? In the Courts, are you? I hear they make kings run around, and do all sorts of busywork. There's the status, sure, but I'm willing to bet it isn't as glamorous as the general public might think. Am I right?
“I know that there are some days,” he continued, “where I just want to collapse into my bed at the end of the day. There’s so much to try and do and see, though. It kind of makes me wish there were more time to a day, or something. But, I suppose that would just lead to more work. Surely there’s something you’ve been interested in doing? Something you haven’t gotten around to?”
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Post by seraaches on Apr 5, 2008 10:19:51 GMT -5
She was fairly certain there was a method to his madness, but at times his conversation seemed to jump too swiftly from one topic to the next. It was a bit dizzying, but she couldn't help but find it a bit thrilling as well. Most of those she knew would beat a topic to death before moving. That was how things needed to be in the Courts, however; you wanted to avoid misunderstandings there.
"Yes, the Court is very busy," she doggedly responded. "But it's not just busywork. There is a great deal to keep up with there and it takes a full complement of Queens, Kings, and Jacks to usually keep up. Even we are a little short-handed right now. . ." Yet another worry that she would receive for another day.
Other interests? Something else she would like to do? Kel bit her lip and tried to think of something to tell him. "I. . . There's not a single thing I've been interested in trying." This wasn't coming out right. She tried again. "I have a very wide range of interests; there's not a great deal i wouldn't like to try at some point, but it's highly unlikely that I ever will." She gave a small shrug, as though to indicate she knew no other way to explain.
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Post by Trebias on Apr 6, 2008 0:22:33 GMT -5
Elias was thoughtful for a moment. He had pretty much done as he pleased within the confines of his hiding for years now. He got interested about something, he went out and learned. Want to cruise that lake? By all means? So the concept of not doing something he wanted was a bit alien to him. He decided once again to ease into the topic.
“Well, there aren’t a lot of things you don’t want to try, right? Name one. Right? And then choose a time to do it? Hm. No, that’s coming out a little confrontational. I guess I’m just speaking from a different lifestyle. I’ve never been high-ranked in the Courts, so out on my own in the Marsh, I get free run to do whatever I want. What I really mean to ask is, what’s stopping you from doing what you want? Maybe it’s not such a big thing to overcome after all, you think?”
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Post by seraaches on Apr 6, 2008 0:31:56 GMT -5
Rounded ears folded back in unease and hesitancy, and Kel slowed to a stop to stare at the ground for a long moment. Oh, Light, how to reply to this? She knew he meant well, but the woman was far too shy and. . . overwhelmed by the world at large to simply go out and do random things that caught her fancy. There was far too much she needed to be doing now for Theofilus for her to just run off and play.
Besides that, Kel really did have a hugely varied interest in the world at large and in a myriad of activities. To be able to satisfy her large bank of curiousity would likely take up all of her time and then nothing she was supposed to be doing would get finished. She couldn't afford to chance losing her focus on the Courts; she had an obligation to Theofilus.
"I have many duties," she finally said quietly. "Far too many interests, and definitely not enough time." They were still excuses and she stared harder at her feet for a moment before admitting in a near whisper. "And I'm too afraid to try." She gave her toes a wry smile and a small shrug.
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Post by Trebias on Apr 6, 2008 2:23:49 GMT -5
Elias began to think how best to carefully tread around this topic. The woman was even more timid than he thought. It would worry him in someone he knew better, and still caused him concern.
“Busy’s busy, there, Kel, and I can understand that. Duty has to come first, but you have to sharpen the saw too, you know? Maybe a good start would be living vicariously through someone. If you’ve ever wanted to do anything in the Marsh, chances are fairly good I’ve done it. I’ll tell you about that.” Of course, he had no intentions of stopping there. Eventually he’d just start taking her along, and that would be that. He thought. First to get her talking. “So, what in the wide world of Josiggy Marsh have you wanted to see or do. You know, I’ve been partner in a tour guide business for a while. I’ve seen a lot there. Try me.” The big smile was back, trying to reassure the woman.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 6, 2008 2:42:33 GMT -5
Kel looked up at the man with some amazement in her gaze. That was an incredibly nice and thoughtful thing to offer, even if the skunk couldn't take him up on it. After all, that would be incredibly selfish of her and most likely an incredible waste of his time. He certainly had better things to do than to answer her questions and infinite curiousity about the world.
"Oh, no, sir, I couldn't possibly," she replied, despite the flicker of longing in her gaze. Oh, that would be so much fun, though! To be able to pick someone else's brain about their life and adventures, especially an obviously rugged Marshdweller straight out of Josiggy itself! She heaved a soft sigh of regret, before turning to gesture at the building they were stopped in front of.
"This is the largest of the libraries in the Capital," she explained softly, unable to keep the fondness from her voice.
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Post by Trebias on Apr 6, 2008 3:22:38 GMT -5
El sputtered. “No, you can and you will, and I’ll tell you why.” Why, he thought. That was a good one. He swung for the fences. “Because, in exchange, you can direct me to the most important news. Can you imagine how much time it would take to just go through, reading about someone’s, I don’t know, crops, when what I really want to know is who’s been in power, who to avoid, and who to seek out. So, in exchange for bringing my retarded social life up to date, I will tell you about the time I killed a constrictor in the heart of the Marsh with none other than Queen Shinrai. Interesting guy once you get to know him!” If that didn’t get her attention, nothing would. The thought again crossed his mind that she was a skunk from the Range, but he batted the thought away. Silly thoughts. What did he need them for? He’d gotten along fine without them so far.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 6, 2008 3:28:08 GMT -5
His fervour took her off-guard and she found herself staring at the canine again in amazement and some degree of shock; he was very. . . alive. It was. . . rather fun to watch, even though she didn't really know how she should react, or even how she wanted to react. This strange canine seemed so free and she found herself envying him even as she tried to hide behind her careful restrictions and barriers.
Her life was filled with rules; strict rules, and they were up for a reason. It would be fun to just toss them all to the wind, but then she would never get anything done. And she really and truly did have things that had to be completed.
Still, when he mentioned Queen Shinrai, her original awe at the idea of killing a giant snake was equally slaughtered. She retreated a step uneasily and seemed to cower in on herself yet again. Not only did she recognize that name, it did not hold good connotations. She found herself breathless and unable to speak.
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Post by Trebias on Apr 6, 2008 9:13:18 GMT -5
Elias was smiling, about to launch into the story of that day so many
years ago, when he saw the change in her like a light going out. That
was interesting, but in a bad way. What had happened. Was it the
snake, the question, or something else. Couldn't hurt to ask, could it?
Then again, he seemed to be missing more than hitting. Maybe he needed
thoughts more than he. . .thought.
Last thing he had said was about killing the snake. He'd thought for
sure she would eat that up, it was interesting stuff! Killing the snake
with Whip? Was that it? "Okay, we'll back up a little," he said. "I
take it you've heard of Queen Shinrai? That sounds like an
understatement. You've met him? And you're from the Range, and a
skunk. That's what was making me think. What did he do to you?" El
was more than a little irritated at Rai's prejudice. This wasn't even a
male Ranger. Hadn't Rai been sure of that much? He muttered something
about having to talk to Rai about this.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 6, 2008 9:31:26 GMT -5
Kel was swiftly shaking her head no as Elias worked his way through the situation. She was going to try denying having ever met the large and very scary stallion, but the other Marshdweller already seemed so very certain that it had been the Queen of Hearts.
"Oh, no, no, it wasn't. . . I mean. . . He didn't. . . We hardly. . ." She floundered to an anxious stop, looking away from him again. Her slate blue arms slipped quickly around her body, hugging herself gently as though she were cold. The Queen of Hearts still gave her chills and at that point he hadn't even been The Queen. The stallion could hold his power like a weapon around him.
"He is. . . a little confused," she finally said softly. "But he's very large and very. . . frightening." Another small shiver slipped down her spine. She didn't like remembering that run-in.
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