Flashback [The Saville] Styling and Profiling (Sigfrid)

[Matthew]

56th of Winter, 512 AV.

Matthew let his long fingers skirt along the stone pillar, feeling the smoothness of the masterpiece glide along. The Saville was apparently an ancient and original building, and the popular word was that every single inch of it was still the original work. Matthew found it a bit hard to believe that anything could still look this good and have existed before the Valterrian, but he was no architect, and had nothing to back up this suspicion of his. In the end, it did not really matter. It was still a beautiful piece of work to gaze upon, and it still held the things he had come to study. It held clothes, and a large variety of them, along with a few other custom pieces that could be requested. There was no doubt they would likely make an original work as well, but Matthew was merely here to find what he could that was already on display. He still had to stop by the dress shop to ask a few questions, and then there was the perfume parlor.

He entered the bustling business, noting a good number of men and women bustling about. They all looked to be something of the uppity type, which made sense to him. Most of the people who had Mizas to spare on custom clothing were ones who also indulged in the other needless pleasures of life. There were various other stores that could provide generic clothing on the cheap, if one wanted to save a little coin. This place was simply for those who wanted to look good.

The young harlot-to-be was one of those men. He had always been dressed by his family, and now that he was planning on striking out on his own, he needed to learn how to be fashionable on his own accord. He walked through the store, up and down the isles, admiring all the different types of clothing on display. There were scarves, stockings, dresses, britches, shirt, vests, and even a few dresses here and there. Everything was quite beautiful, and seemed to have that 'sophisticated' look that he was going for. Glancing down at his slim and muscled figure, he bit his lip, thankful that he had dressed for the occasion. He was wearing a gray vest and trousers, with a button-up white shirt underneath. A thin scarf was wrapped around his neck to protect from the cold, the sharp winds of winter quite chilly during the night. He still wasn't sure why he had decided to take a shopping trip after night had fallen.

He ran a hand through his hair, blue eyes flicking about. He had no idea where to start. He had a general idea of his size (his current clothes fit him just enough to show off his body), but he was a bit unsure what style to go for. His current outfit was just a common dapper look that he had copied from other young men he saw at formal events. But making his own style... He genuinely had no idea. Frowning to himself, he paused, staring intently at all the racks in front of him. Chewing his lip in thought, he cast his blue gaze around, an idea coming to mind. He'd just find someone to help. The unlucky lady that was closest to him would hear him softly clear his throat, a polite smile and blue eyes meeting them as they turned. "Excuse me, miss. I could use some opinions on possible outfit choices?"

[Sigfrid]

Mere days passed since her arrival in Zeltiva, allowing little time for exploration and discovery. Holed up in her temporary lodgings in the day, Sigfrid attempted to learn about the city by night, thankful that the Ethaefal were welcome in the bustling, port city. Knowing little of the city, she treaded carefully, avoiding the attention of the influential and infamous. Despite this, earlier in the day she had nearly stumbled down the East Street, a region known for its criminal company. Luckily, a passerby directed her away and provided direction, resulting in her current browsing of the shops in the West. With her funds dwindling, Sigfrid indulged in window shopping instead, ignoring the need to hold down a job if for the moment. Travel tired her, offering little motivation in the hunt for income, dulling silver eyes as they perused the assortment of clothing. The Saville, she had learned, was one focused on the tailored clothing of men and though the height of the garb suited her tall frame, it was definitely not what she was looking for. Still, the Ethaefal appreciated the quality fabrics and thoughtful cuts in design, running iridescent fingers along the panel of a suit. It was soothing, being in the elegant atmosphere of a boutique, a much needed contrast after months on the road. Quietly satisfied, Sigfrid was interrupted from her comfortable caress by a light clearing of the throat. Naturally, she turned, revealing surreal features framed by impossibly white hair. Curiousity lit her eyes as she gave the stranger's appearance a subtle look over. With skin reminiscent of the Eypharians, long lashes and lush lips, all in all he was a beautiful human. As an appreciator of beauty in all forms, Sigfrid found her mood lightening and lips curving as she listened to his request, though she found attention drawn to the vibrant colour of his eyes. So like Zakar... She mused, wondering momentarily if this stranger would too become a friend. Needless to say, the Ethaefal held a soft spot for blue eyes. It was only fortunate she had yet to meet a charming Svefra. "Of course." She replied, turning to align her body toward the rack of interest. The Ethaefal wore the only proper attire she owned, a light pink empire waist dress that was partially hindered by the cloak draped across her arm. "What look or impression are you going for?" She added helpfully, breaking from her analysis of the clothing to look toward the stranger.

[Matthew]

He quickly scanned his new assistant, pleased with what he saw. She was gorgeous, and she seemed to be well dressed herself. If she had a sense of style, she would be the perfect one to help him out. Pausing for a moment, he blinked, blue eyes briefly flickering with confusion. She was gorgeous? He didn't usually notice that without some amount of study. He could appreciate beauty, and could generally see it, but it didn't just come to him. He wasn't the type to just naturally note how beautiful someone was. He took a second look, chewing his lower lip in thought, running his blue gaze back over her figure. Her hair color was odd, as if she was an elder, but with the face of a young woman. His eyes flicked over her hair, and finally he noticed the horns. An Ethaefal, known for their surreal appearance. His eyes gazed straight at hers for a moment, trying to process how he felt about this. He was working on becoming a professional when it came to women and pleasure. He wasn't sure how he felt about unwanted thoughts of momentary attraction.

Banishing the thoughts from his mind, he turned with her to the clothing rack. At her question, he answered without pause, blue gaze returning to match hers as she glanced towards him. "Attractive. Sensual, if a man can do that. Sexy." He said the words matter-of-factly, as if men normally came in asking for such a thing. "You are an attractive woman. No doubt you see men that you find attractive, and perhaps have even had relationships with some. Do you ever notice a particular type of clothing that seems to catch your eye? Perhaps professional and attractive. I think I like the crisp, clean, professional look."

He turned back, reaching out to touch one of the coats folded on the nearby table. He ran his fingers along it, and then took his other hand to touch to his chest. He slowly stroked the touch down his definition, stroking the same path down the coat he had chosen. It was as if he was somehow matching the coat up to his form, checking to make sure it would hold the muscle the way he liked. He turned back to her, tilting his head, going right back to chewing his lip in a little nervous habit of his. "I am not sure. Do they have dressing rooms? I feel like I will have to try on the different outfits. I haven't bought such nice outfits for myself before." His blue eyes searched her, this whole shopping trip obviously quite important to him for some reason. He sounded genuinely concerned about what his new outfits were going to be.

[Sigfrid]

Other than a brief pause, Sigfrid did well in hiding her surprise. More than the unexpected choice of words was the contrast between it and the unembellished delivery. It was apathetic and practical as though he cared little for the art itself. Somewhat disillusioned, the Ethaefal reevaluated the man before her, remaining observant as she fought the growing warmth in her cheeks. Despite popular belief, compliments were a rare occurrence for a creature like her, much to Sigfrid's chagrin. Most simply stared, puzzled and intrigued, while remaining a safe distance away. Even the ignorant knew from a glance that she was not of this world, that she did not belong. Though it was disheartening to catch their eyes flickering away, she understood that they were wise to keep away from the unknown. Refocusing, she responded comfortably. "Of course he can, though you would have to be careful to not let the clothes overwhelm your presence. If that were the case, better not to wear any at all." A playful light flickered across silver eyes, as she shifted her weight, leaning to one side as a hand drew close to rest an elbow on the cloaked arm. With fingertips gently grazing on her lip, she looked up and to the side as she considered his next point. After the monotony of travel, the Ethaefal grew rather restless, resulting in her current fidgeting. "Professional yes..." A ghost of a smile haunted her lips as eye contact was reestablished. "I agree," She relaxed, finding security in their similarities "though elegant would be a better word. Simple cuts and colours do best to highlight a man's features." Which features, she did not specify. Thankfully, he did not ask and instead, turned to examine a coat on display. She followed his strange gestures with a curious eye, simply watching as a long finger alternated between coat and chest, each stroke slow and deliberant. Though the repetition inspired boredom, Sigfrid enjoyed the brief voyeuristic view. "Do you have a lover that dresses you?" She teased amiably before responding to the indirect question. "I believe I saw some to the side, but first..." Her gaze swept the displays in their vicinity, searching for an item that captured her interest. Landing on a grey collared shirt, the Ethaefal headed toward the rack, her steps few and light. If the blue eyed stranger did not follow, she would gesture with coiling fingers, her palm open to the sky. Once he arrived, Sigfrid would hold up the shirt by the shoulders, lining it up with his own. Fingers gently clasped the free edges of the shirt, wrapping them loosely against his frame to check for fit. She tilted her head to one side, glancing up and down to compare skin tone to fabric before setting the article down. Pausing, the Ethaefal chose a similar shirt in a warmer grey and repeated the process. Her touches were light, easy, not meant to cause discomfort in the slightest. Sigfrid was careful to keep the stranger at ease by watching for any indication of discomfort. She wished to be pleasant company, no matter the company, though it would be dishonest to say she did not appreciate his. Lips curving to a crescent, her gaze flickered upward in evident satisfaction. "How's this?" Sigfrid would hand the garment over should he move to take it. "It is a light but quality fabric - see how tightly woven the threads are -" She leaned in slightly to gesture with a point, ivory strands falling past her shoulders. "And is much less harsh than a white undershirt would be against your warm toned skin." The Ethaefal allowed both space and time for consideration, her eyes wandering the adjacent racks. Feet soon following, Sigfrid remained at hearing distance as she perused the selection. Grabbing a brown blazer and light tan pants, she returned to his side. "Maybe try it with these on?" Outfit

[Matthew]

He examined her first set of words in his mind, turning them over and over in his brain. Was she flirting with him in a clever play, or was it just an innocent set of words? Language was an interesting thing. Similar words could mean completely different things if spoken in a different tone. Her tone was careful though, pronounced and soft like his, her eyes the only thing allowing some expression to show. He searched them with his own blue gaze, allowing a playful glimmer to match her own as they silently sized each other for a moment. The moment was broken as she turned, a bit fidgety. He could understand on some level. This entire city made him feel horribly cooped up, but it was something he had to deal with for now. He supposed it wasn't too horrid of a thing. He would be gone one day. Professional, elegant. He nodded at her words, eyes responding with delight at her apparent expertise on the subject. He wished he had a notepad to write down the things she was telling him. They sounded so wise and made sense, and he repeated them over and over in his head, trying to commit them to his mental library. Her next coy words caused him to smile a bit, and he shook his head, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. "No, mostly ones that undress me." It was worth noting that he used the plural term casually, as well as the idea of multiple lovers undressing him. Focused attention followed her graceful movements as she picked and chose multiple pieces of an outfit for him. He noticed she was doing quite well to match it to his body, and he did his best to flex his fit frame to it, attempting to help her as muchas possible. He followed her eyes, also noting how she checked his skin tone as well, continuing to make mental note after mental note. She was a wealth of fashion information, and unluckily for her, Matthew was already consider getting her to do this on a regular basis until he had it down pat himself. She offered him the garment, and he took it, nodding at the information she gave of the woven threads. He quietly followed her to the next part of the outfit, taking it quietly as well. He considered the outfit, then smiled. "Excellent. Thank you. What was your name?" He waited for it, then introduced himself, completely forgetting if he already had. "I am Matthew." Her knowledge had fully entranced him, something he could appreciate. Turning from her, he smiled slightly over his shoulder. "I'll be right back." His lithe body stepped off towards the dressing rooms, graceful figure moving smoothly across the floor. After about a minute, he would return, the outfit displayed on his body. She had done an excellent job fitting it to him, the cloth clinging to his muscle intimately. He unbuttoned and re-buttoned the bottom two buttons on his jacket, figuring out which one he liked before leaving it buttoned. He stopped in front of her, back straight and shoulders back, the stance powerful and confident as he modeled the sharp outfit for her. His blue eyes watched her own stare, examining it for a reaction, teeth sinking nervously into his lower lip as he allowed himself to be judge. For all his posh appearance and handsome looks, there was a slightly insecure boy hidden somewhere under all of that. "What do you think? Is it a good look?"

[Sigfrid]

Sigfrid was aware of the impression she gave, ever mindful of her speech and expression. It was not a careful crafting of a persona really - she was not so methodical - but an extension. Flirtation was what came naturally as a result of teasing and a desire to please, veiling naivety beneath. Without the experience of past lives and little of her present, innocence was only expected. When he spoke, it sounded as though he were implying multiple lovers, puzzling the Ethaefal. As far as she knew, only the Pressorah or Pressor were expected to maintain a garden of concubines, not so much the common man. Perhaps he was wealthier and more powerful than she had thought. The profession of an escort completely eluded her, a concept entirely new to the Ethaefal. While fitting, Sigfrid did notice the flexing of muscle and the straightening of one's back, wondering briefly if it was a display or simply helpfulness. Nonetheless, she appreciated the feel of solidity beneath her fingers, her touch lightly snaking in controlled curiosity whenever contact was required. After handing off the ensemble, he gave thanks which she returned with a small smile. Her movements stuttered for a moment, but the subsequent expression assured the stranger - now named - should he notice the subtle pause. "A pleasure, Matthew. I am Sigfrid" Her tone remained unburdened despite the faint melancholy clouding her mind. She was still unused to giving her name, or even, in accepting it as her own. Every time the foreign sound passed her lips, she felt a tug toward the earth, grounding her, a reminder of her pathetic reality. When Matthew disappeared in search of a dressing room, Sigfrid continued to browse, finally finding the small selection of dresses. Thankfully, none fit her taste let alone budget, offering little temptation. After flipping through the remaining few garments, she headed toward the general direction of the fitting rooms, closing the distance for Matthew's convenience. The man returned looking better than expected, much to Sigfrid's relief. She may have noticed a thing or two from the clothing choices of the Eypharians, but the rest she had quickly deduced as an afterthought. The Ethaefal was unaware that she possessed an eye for beauty having only lived vicariously through the wealthy, knowing better than to indulge. The less of that she did, the quicker she could make it to her new home, the city of her kin. Naively she thought Lhavit held the answers to all her unspoken questions, that she would gain some sort of purpose once she stepped through its doors. Distracting herself, the Ethaefal approached, hiding her satisfaction with a ponderous look. Her eyes roamed his body, noting the fit and cut against his lithe frame. Graceful fingers smoothed the lapels of the blazer, hands sliding down the front as she considered. Though she was aware of her movements, dangerously, the innocent Sigfrid was also naturally charming and horribly curious. From his constant buttoning and re buttoning, she knew he was not confident in her choices and perhaps, also himself. She found no offense should it be the first case, for she was hardly an expert and was often welcome to discussion. Even so, she could not help but tease the man. "Well..." Her lips twisted into a small, disapproving frown, palms resting on his chest. "It's not bad I suppose..." Her gaze rose to meet his, a smile playing at her lips. "You look dashing, Matthew. But more importantly, how do you feel in this?" She retreated to a comfortable distance to allow him to turn toward the nearby mirror, her receding touch lingering out of laziness. As she watched his reaction, Sigfrid wondered if he had assumed she was an employee at the Saville, though she was fairly certain her inexpensive clothing and worn traveler's cloak suggested quite the opposite. Her attention wandered as usual, but always flickered back to the young man. In one of her glances, she caught sight of a dark, grey tie sitting atop the adjacent table. Retrieving it with a curious hand, she tested the material with light rubs before facing Matthew. Embarrassed, the Ethaefal asked. "Would you try this on? I'm...not sure how to tie a tie." EditSorry, I forgot to add something to the end of my post! It's there now.

[Matthew]

A contrast to her natural personality, parts of his were expertly crafted. It wasn't so much an act as it was a reconditioning, something where he had specifically designed certain things to become habits. While his carefully pronounced words and natural elegance was a result of his upbringing and genuine personality, the little allures that showed up every now and then were all a well-designed construct. He had a part of himself he had built from scratch, and a part of himself that he had been born with. It was almost as if he had decided to mold himself from a distance at some point, making himself into what he thought he should be. He was that very dedicated to what he was trying to do. It did all seem very natural though. The way his eyes sometimes caught hers, glimmering mysteriously with light blue hues. The way his muscles teased against her fingers as she subtlely tested their firmness, defined lines just happening to be there for her fingers to dip into briefly. Not once did it seem forced, or even purposeful. He went on about their business professionally and calmly, his body doing all the work for him. "The pleasure is mine, Sigfrid." As he posed in front of her, he noticed the sudden small frown, and his handsome face just barely fell. His emotions betrayed him at times, and this was one of those times, his mind instantly wondering if he couldn't pull off the elegant look effectively. He had glanced down over himself and loved the look, but if this elegant woman didn't like it, would any other? A small frown of his own touched to his full lips, and his gaze slid down, about to re-analyze his appearance with a more cynical mind. Thankfully, she revealed she had just been teasing, the relief apparent in his brightened stare. At her question, he tilted his head and turned, staring at the mirror. For a moment he paused, then he sucked in a breathe of air, and then he changed. It was like he had some sort of switch inside of him that he flicked without a second thought. His eyes darkened, staring at himself with sultry suggestions, unspoken hints of horribly naughty things flickering across the surface of his gaze. Shoulders and back straightened once more, muscles visibly flexing out against the surface of the material, making themselves apparent for just a chime. His body seemed to work together in all sorts of little ways, making subtle little changes that all combined in a singular display of attractiveness. His white teeth sunk into his lower lip, hungrily teasing at the idea of giving something a taste... craving a taste. He quietly stared, his stance seeping an aura of confidence and power. For moments longer, he considered himself in the mirror, and then visibly relaxed into his casual posture of before. He turned to her, a small approving smile on his lips, nodding slightly. "I feel good in it. Very good." Catching her touching the tie, he regarded her with curiosity as she turned to him. Nodding at her question, he took the tie, more than happy to help out. She had helped him, after all. "Of course." He deftly slung it around his neck, and then quickly began to tie it, flickering his hands around to speedily cinch the piece of cloth. Hesistating, he chewed his lower lip in thought, then undid the tie just as quickly. "Here, watch." His hands moved slowly this time, firmly spinning the cloth around itself step by step, pausing every now and then to show her the placement of what he was doing. Eventually it ended in a perfectly placed knot, dangling down his mid-section nicely. He untied it again, then stepped up closer to her, tilting his head down to gesture at the loose tie. "You try. On yourself, or on me. Before you tighten the knot at the end, you can actually pull it off and put it on another. Handy sometimes, if you get used to only tying it when on yourself or on others." He was happy to trade her knowledge, suddenly feeling quite in debt.

[Sigfrid]

Though surprised by the appearance of a frown, Sigfrid thought the sincerity was rather endearing. Unfamiliar with the moulding of a charming persona, she thought the two to be similar or at the very least, possessing similar tastes. Yet his expression was not carved with playful intent, made obvious by the brightened expression that followed. Was this gullibility or naiveté? She wondered, though she supposed the two went hand in hand. With that thought in mind, when the Ethaefal noted the change in Matthew's demeanour, she consciously lowered a curious brow. It was a bit shocking and rather baffling to one who presented herself far more consistently, with the sight alone holding her gaze captive. Sigfrid indulged in curiousity as she observed each subtle change: the predatory look of his eyes, the straightening of his back and pulling of his shoulders back, the too white teeth sinking into flesh. It was intriguing how much he could transform, almost frightening really, naturally causing an instinctive chill to course through her body. In catching herself staring, Sigfrid realized the magnetic qualities of his current facade and began to silently marvel at his skill. Later, while she watched Matthew begin the tying process, the Ethaefal found her gaze to be far more scrutinizing. Armed with divine appeal, she had simply thought that one was born with charisma, never considering that in a way, it could be learned and improved upon. With the concept of this skill realized, Sigfrid grew progressively more curious as questions dancing impatiently on her tongue. But this was not the time, and though distracted, she did her best to retain the demonstration. Once her turn came, she mulled over the decision briefly before taking hold of the ends of the tie. The Ethaefal did not foresee ever needing to wear a tie herself and so, proceeded to use Matthew as a practise mannequin. With graceful motions, her hands weaved, making a show out of a menial task. Failing once, she gave a soft, bashful laugh before undoing the tie to repeat the process. This time she paused between placements as she attempted to recall the image she was shown before mapping the material to it. Though she started off well, the last few steps were completely wrong and resulted in another fail. Third time it seemed, was the charm, as she tightened the knot with a rising hand, her gaze following. Catching the blue of his eyes, Sigfrid smiled. "There we go." With the conversation coming to a close, the Ethaefal saw her chance. As her fingers fell from the knot, she retreated until her bottom gently collided with the table behind her. Leaning on the edge with arms beneath her breasts, Sigfrid wore a perplexed expression as she looked him over. "Where did you learn all this? The change...in front of the mirror." Muted intrigue flickered in her eyes as she continued. "Is this your...profession?" Should Matthew answer with cryptic words, she would ask for an elaboration until the concept was fully understood, to which she would ask rather innocently. "Would you teach me? To...seduce?" oocNot my best post but hopefully the next one will be better

[Matthew]

He watched with careful eyes as she attempted to weave the tangle of a tie, gaze critical but body held straight for her to use. If he was amused by her show, he did little to show it, almost looking annoyed instead. He was a strict teacher, if anything. Learning was a serious business to him, and he tended to try and make it a serious business for anyone else involved. Eventually though, she managed to get it, and he gave a graceful nod and generous smile. "Very good." With her next movements, he turned to curiously watch, as if sensing something was coming. Studying her expression carefully, her words reached his ears and his eyebrow arched. He mimicked her posture, hands finding the edge of the table behind him to prop himself up as he leaned back. His chest muscles and shoulders flexed lightly, pushing out against his clothing in a more pronounced fashion. He didn't answer for a moment, instead taking some time to glance her over. Her body was of the sort that would be alluring to many men, from what he could tell. She didn't look as if she had wore the fashionable dress to show off her womanly assets, but with dresses, sometimes you didn't have to. They were naturally elegant and beautiful, two things that automatically brought a tiny level of seduction along with them. She was also otherworldly almost, at least in his mind. Could he really teach? He didn't even consider himself to be fully taught. If anything, he could attempt, and perhaps learn something about himself in the process. He finally nodded, words coming out carefully. "I learned it myself. Books and watching, studying from afar and eventually up close. Multiple lovers, remember? Sometimes you can make love to someone outside of a bedroom. With your eyes, for instance. I have had ample time to practice all sorts of love. As for my profession... no, not yet. But soon. I am leaving Zeltiva and my pursuit of a medical certificate to try and sell myself in Syliras." He was blunt and matter-of-fact, words not faltering and gaze not hesitating to match her own. Stepping up from his slanted pose, he gracefully stepped towards her, offering her a hand to hold. To him, extending an arm to escort someone with seemed a little too stiff. Hand-holding could be taken intimately, but was also used by little children, simply to keep each other close. He preferred that, especially since it was a closer form of touch. It was something that could graduate to something else. If she didn't take the hand however, he wouldn't be offended at all, merely nodding and gesturing for her to follow. He knew enough that this sort of topic was best not held in the middle of a somewhat crowded clothing store. Walking close enough to brush hips with her, he spoke softly, eyes glancing around the streets until he found a small bench in the corner of some businesses. Unwrapping his scarf with his free hand, he offered it politely to her, well aware of the chill in the air. "What do you think there is to learn for you? There are.. many parts to seduction. Before, during, even after. What do you think you need?" He turned to gaze at her, eyes finding her own and holding them firmly. "Why do you want to learn?" He approached it as casually as she did, blue eyes sharp and intelligent, demeanor professional and calm. Where he couldn't match her in elegance in grace, he tried to combat her with cool confidence, keeping a straight face and steady gaze as they discussed the intimate topic.

OOCIt seemed to be an excellent post to me.

[Sigfrid]

In hindsight, it seemed rather obvious that it, like most skills, could learned through the written word. It was same with observation as Sigfrid was already picking up on the little details that drew and kept her attention on Matthew. She mentally noted these shifts in his transformation as she continued to listen, eyes intent, already behaving as the eager student. In a way, he was a sort of concubine, though he did not service one but many. In Ahnatep, she was certain his looks and skills would win him the favour of the Pressorah and a life of luxury would be expected, easy, yet the Ethaefal sensed this was not what he was after. He seemed more scholarly, curious, and much too independent to rely on the whims of royalty, though the mere phrase "selling oneself" sounded rather degrading to her ears. "How does one do so with only the eyes? Something...primal in appearance?" Sigfrid asked, tacking on a guess based on the expression evoked in his eyes just chimes before. "You would have to understand a great variety of people to please everyone, rather than one, like the Pressorah. Her concubines are some of the most beautiful and alluring creatures I've seen." Her voice trailed subtly as she recalled images of the lovely gardens and even now, found it an honour to have been able to educate the courtesans on music. "I've always thought they were skilled from birth, it never occurred to me that it could be learned." She paused momentarily, then allowed for a tangential question. "I only know Syliras as a walled city...is it a place with a high demand for your type of profession?" The Ethaefal was not sure what to call this occupation, whatever it was. Pleasure giver? Bed warmer? Rather than unintentionally offend, she kept herself from using those overheard terms. Though her words were well paced in the flow of the conversation, it may have surprised Matthew (and a few passing customers) how much she spoke compared to before. Once she began her inquiries, it was often difficult to stop. This was often where the Ethaefal's composure would to slip, revealing unabashed curiosity. Though he spoke plainly, Sigfrid was growing accustomed to the tone, finding it admirable considering that for her, the truth at times elusive. Her desire to please would conflict with honesty and more often than not, won, so blunt characters were greatly appreciated. They kept her honest in a way. Interrupting her thoughts was the other's movements and a hand that soon reached for hers. Perplexed, Sigfrid met his gaze briefly before glancing back down at the open palm. Wordlessly, she unfolded her cloak and draped it across her shoulders before allowing her gentle touch to be received. She was not uncomfortable with the idea of hand holding, merely unaccustomed. Her childhoods forgotten and friends few, it was almost a new experience in itself. The Ethaefal did enjoy the small intimacy of the gesture however, finding that she felt unburdened by the attachment. The occasional brush of the hip was similarly welcomed, tempting the creature to return a playful bump. Ultimately Sigfrid withheld her antics, blaming it on her muted excitement. Once seated on a cool bench, she was offered a scarf, to which she returned with a brief look of hesitation. In seeing Matthew's unbudging expression, the Ethaefal decided to receive the neckwear. "Thank you." She wrapped the material around her long neck, revelling silently in the small feeling of being taken care. "I'm not sure what there is to learn, I know so little about it. Could I not learn it all?" With her questioning look, it was easy to tell that Sigfrid was deadly serious. She was one to be greedy for knowledge. Not knowing how to answer the second question, the Ethaefal avoided it all together, hoping Matthew would not notice as she entered her next answer. In the end, it was the most important of all. Clearly, Sigfrid was underestimating his disciplined nature. The small smile that curved her lips soon reformed to a firm line. Why did she want to learn this, aside from simple curiosity? Immediately, Zakar came to mind with her heart aching at the thought. Had she been more of what he wanted, would he still have been engaged? Perhaps it all would have been different after that defining moment, perhaps they would have been far away from Malak's insidious touch, perhaps... Even after chasing all the possibilities, she had an inkling that it came down to one simple fact. "I wish to be liked, to entice others so that their worries and fears of an unknown creature would be forgotten. And...for curiosity's sake." Though this was true, the faint fog in her gaze indicated there was more to the story that she, at present, wished to share. Fortunately, the haze was quick to clear as silver eyes flickered to his blue, a coy smile growing. "You must think it forward of me to ask, I apologize if I've made you feel uncomfortable." Oh how wrong she was. oocThanks. I'm still getting used to Sigfrid so it's still hard for me gauge how well I conveyed her.