[Red Diamond] Shaking Off the Ice [Riley LaRose]

[Jaiun]

Jaiun couldn't help but raise his eyes as Riley talked. What she spoke of...it sounded an awful lot like slavery. Having never encountered the craft in Avanthal, Jaiun couldn't say much given it's alienness, but to Jaiun, with his honorable, proud ways, it sounded like despicable to force others to do your bidding. "Oh." was all Jaiun could think of to say in response to the girl's statements; he truly was at a loss of words to say- a new experience for him. "That's..." Embarassed- another new experience- Jaiun briefly turned into his drink, taking a deep gulp of it in a vain attempt to politely hide his embarassedness. When he settled the cup back down, he managed to hear her next question, that of the Polar Bear guard, and, grateful for a change of topic, he jumped onto the subject willingly: "Well, the Polar Bear guard are a part of Icewatch. We and our Vantha partners defend this city." Airily, Jaiun waved his arm around to indicate Avanthal. "And yes, that is what I'm a part of." Jaiun gave her a look that meant she should have known that by now. When she replaced his money with her own, Jaiun was silent and collected his money back. It had been an implusive gesture on his part- and he could see how it worried her. He hadn't been quite sure what had forced him to jump the theoretical gun and put down his money for someone he barely knew; he had just felt, at the moment, it had been the right thing to do. For the bartender, of course, he didn't care who was paying as long as he got his money. He sweeped up the mizas and returned to the kitchen, presumably to get Riley's food and drink.

[Riley LaRose]

As Jaiun's eyebrows seemed to rise at her words, Riley had the urge to bite her tongue from saying anything else. Not that she didn't like him, of course, or considered him kind or anything, she didn't want him to look at her differently for something she can't change. She wanted to be known not for her past, but for what she could do in the present. Even Dance had to be useful somehow.

"You're the first person I've ever made speechless with words alone." She said quietly with another half smile. She hadn't intended on that, and as he took a big gulp of whatever drink was in his cup she averted her eye to glance around the bar curiously. Not a bit of gold to be seen here at all, it seemed.

As he began telling her of the Polar Bear Guard, she looked back at him again with interest. It sounded like an amazing thing to be part of. "I wish I were a polar bear," she said, envy glittering in her tone. An Eypharian would probably do anything for a polar bear to be a slave of his household. Although, it might prove disastrous. The other Kelvic couldn't do anything to get out of their kennels, but a large bear probably would be able to. Maybe it was wise their were none so far south. "Do you have your own Vantha?" Now, the topic of Bonding. Riley would have to be much more careful here. Bonding was a source of many problems back in Ahnatep, and while the same may not be said here, it may be a private topic.

She smiled slightly, a silent apology going his way, as he returned his money to where it came from and the bartender took hers and ambled off for her order. She could feel herself growing excited at being able to taste chocolate. Such a thing could only be smelled but never eaten before and now it was in her figurative paw!

His return, and the arrival of bread and a nice mug of steaming dark brown liquid made Riley's stomach clench in anticipation. She waited instinctively for someone to come and take the drink from her, keeping her hands away so they couldn't be slapped, but when no one came she reached for the mug and took a tentative inhale.

Hot, hot, hot! The drink said to her nose, but she didn't heed it. So excited she was to have something different, forbidden, she ignored what warning her nose tried to give her and took a nice big gulp of liquid.

It felt like fire. In her throat and in her stomach, making her cheek pale then flush vivid red in shock and fright. She almost spilled the drink, but wisely understood that doing so could hurt her more, and put it down with a thud as she fought to swallow the drink down.

She should have listened to her nose.

[Jaiun]

Jaiun nodded sheepishly -a confusing analogy for a Kelvic, but it's the best way to describe his face of the moment- when Riley remarked on his lack of voice. "I'm sorry about that," He said slowly. "It's just...I've never heard a tale like yours before." He looked Riley fully in the- well, the eye, as one was covered by her long, shimmering hair. "I'm quite glad you've gotten out of it and got here." Jaiun realized what this sounded like, suddenly, and tried to amend his speech. "So that I can have quite a good friendly bar chat, of course." He added hastily, a laughing expression in his eyes. When Riley brought up the topic of the Bonding, Jaiun twisted his mouth. "Well...no, I do not." He admitted. "No, I have not Bonded with anyone yet. Neither it seems, have you." The last sentence was said in a hush: while Jaiun didn't care if people knew he were a Kelvic- in fact, many of the patrons of this bar Jaiun had encountered on patrol and so knew his true nature- but he understood the girl's wish to keep her true race a secret. Over time, Jaiun had realized how much of outcasts Kelvics tended to be- they blended the line between animal and human, and never really fit in either. "This has truly been an interesting conversation, but I should think we should hold off on it for now," Jaiun gestured towards the bartender, who was swiftly approaching. "For I think the main course has arrived." Jaiun took a swift drink of his own as Riley gulped down her hot chocolate, barely avoiding spitting his own drink out when he saw her reaction to it. Some might have that apparently the hot in the name of the drink would think it might be, well, hot; but apparently Riley was either too thirsty or too curious to heed such a warning. With only a second of hesitation, she took a great big gulp of the scalding liquid. The result, to say the least, was interesting. "I'm sorry, miss," He grinned, on the brim of laughing, as Riley slammed her drink down on the table, struggling to keep it in. "I should have warned you."

OocWell, this might seem like a good point to wrap up our little conversation. Feel free to end it in your next post. Riley and Jaiun certainly have an interesting little chemistry going on, methinks. Perhaps we could plan a thread in the future for them, perhaps this time in full Kelvic form? PM me if interested.

[Riley LaRose]

Riley gave a faint half smile at Jaiun's admittance. He was shocked now? She could completely horrify him and anyone else in the bar within a few chimes if she brushed her hair back into the style she used to wear it. Not one of these people, including the polar bear Riley had just met, would probably take her face lightly. She didn't, and why should they? She hated her face.

"I'm glad I left as well, although I have hardly told you as much as possible. Before leaving, I'd never even seen snow! I think I like it here!" She smiled again as she tried to lighten the mood somewhat. Smiles were coming easy again. She could ignore the others in the bar while she talked to Jaiun. Her smile dimmed only somewhat at his comment, and she felt the need to justify why she hadn't at her age. It wasn't like a Kelvic could live forever. "I am... not sure if I am ready to Bond. I was raised thinking I had, but when I was cast out, I felt nothing. My mother and father are Bonded. I suppose it terrifies me." Her smile lifted the left side of her mouth again.

She should have known that the drink would be hot. Under the flash of scalding heat, however, was a taste to take her breath away. It was a thick flavor, sweet and creamy, that she had never had before. She wanted more of it, even while she wasn't sure she could like the heat. "I should have realized, in all honesty!" She said in response to him after swallowing the drink. Her hand moved to it anyway, and the nice thick slice of bread she was given. At this point, she was glad with her choices. She had something new to try out (although she planned on ale one day in the future), and something familiar that she'd had ever since she'd grown enough. "It's really delicious though." Another smile curved the edge of her mouth as she proceeded to eat her meal.


oocI think I wrote the ending badly. If you wish to add anything, do so. Haha, I'm gonna turn this in to the storyteller tomorrow. :] I agree. They have some sort of adorable chemistry, and I'll PM you as soon as possible.

[Cheshire]

Character: Jaiun Experience: Observation +2, Interrogation +3 Lore: Identifying Kelvics [Basic], Attempting to Paying for a Girl's Meal, Riley LaRose [Basic] Character: Riley LaRose Experience: Interrogation +3, Storytelling +2 Lore: This is Freedom, How to Order Food, Turning Down Charity, Icewatch [Basic], Reactions of a Slave, Jaiun [Basic] Additional Note: Great thread! I agree, Jaiun and Riley do have cute chemistry. I look forward to more threads from you two! PM me with concerns.