Where in Shyke Am I?! (Bob)

[Talulah]

43rd Day of Summer, 512 AV. Around noon. Talulah sighed and scratched her head as walked down the street. Of course, it could've been the same street she had walked down a little while ago; they all looked the same to her. She had been pointed in the correct direction by multiple people and yet she still had no clue where she was. "Stupid petching city!" she shouted in her native tongue, kicking a wall angrily. She needed an outlet for her anger quickly, before she did something worse than beat up walls so she punted a rat that scurried across her path. She ran up and kicked it again and winced at the metallic clunking noise it made. "Oops." she whispered to herself, anger quickly disappating as a rather annoyed looking knight stomped up to her. "What are you doing young lady?!" he said angrily. "You kicked a rat at me! Do you want to spend time in the Tank?!" Talulah whimpered and shrunk against a wall. "N-no sir. I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to kick it at you. I-I'm just lost and it m-made me frustrated." she answered in an uncharacteristically nervous voice. Normally, she would glare right at the knight and show him what would happen if he tried to take her to the Tank but she couldn't risk it when she was going on a quest soon.

[Bob Barton]

What to do, what to do. Bob found back himself in Syliras again and somehow got himself into its latest mission which was good because the rewards were great. He knew that maybe he should be preparing himself since the Grandmaster has warned them of some dangers as well but he was hoping that Jason might think of something by then. It was always good to have capable friends. They can do a lot for a person as they lazed around doing nothing which was why Bob tried to have many friends. The term friends is used loosely by him of course but then what are friends for if not helping each other?

Which meant that Bob had to help his friends as well even if he expected them to go above and beyond. Walking down the streets he heard some strange noise and when he looked at its direction he saw a knight pushing a woman around. "Those knights. Always using their power" Bob told himself unhappily and tried to look closer at the commotion to find out what happened. Of course, no one would know that something as insignificant as a rat could have caused it so why should he think anything of that rat by the knight's feet?

But what Bob found out at least was that this was not the first time he saw this woman. Her features were nothing too special putting her together with a lot of woman that Bob might go to if they were not already in trouble with the knights but he found his eyes drawn to her hair. That long braid trailing down near the ground like some sort of a tail... Where has he seen it before? Somewhere in Syliras of course since it had to be recent. Somewhere like...

The meeting! She was the one who joined the overly enthusiastic akalak in cheering which meant she might be going along to Sahova. Making a decision that he should make a new friend today so that he would be better off along the journey and maybe have a good shot at the lady if he could make a good impression, the grinning Bob Barton made his way to the chestnut haired damsel in the streets thinking up what he could do in this situation in order to get what he wants.

Some djed would be needed here he figured and as he has been using it for so long, Bob started to build up some of it in him. It slowly came from his mouth towards the knight as he said "good afternoon Sir Knight. I see you've found my friend" in a rather smooth voice trying to set the base feelings to calm the man down. He figured that if he was at least listening it was good enough to continue that "she's just a little bit enthusiastic to serve Syliras. You'll be joining us on the trip too wouldn't you so aren't we all friends here?"

Of course Bob did not know if this knight was going or not but he hoped that the man at least knew enough so that when he worked his djed in another way, telling it to plant a suggestion that they are going to Sahova, he would agree. "I'm sure she is sorry already" for whatever it is that she did "aren't you?" because if she is not, Bob is going to cut whatever ties he lied and run.

[Talulah]

Talulah looked over and sighed in relief when she saw a grinning guy striding towards her. She let him speak and when he said he was sure she was sorry, she nodded quickly. "Yes sir. I've very sorry sir." The knight grunted and hovered over her for a little bit longer then nodded and backed up. "Fine. Good luck on your journey." he said and continued on his route around the city. Talulah smiled and sighed in relief again, brushing a few stray hairs behind her ear. "Thank you so much!" she said to the smiling man. "I would've done something myself but I didn't wanna get in trouble this close to the journey. And, to be completely honest, those guys scare me!" She walked toward him quickly, not really running but not walking either, and gave him a big hug. Actually, it would be more acurate to call it a bone-crushing hug. She, as usual, put all her strength in her hug and it's always surprising a that girl of her size could squeeze that tight.

[Bob Barton]

This woman seemed brighter than she looked when she took up the akalak's cry days before. Bob was quite relieved that he did not step in for nothing and still had his smiling face on as he waved goodbye to the knight until he was no longer in sight before he allowed himself to relax. All that smiling hurt his face a bit but Bob did not want to stop looking like the confident hero he was as he announced "no need for thanks since we'll be working together" before admitting soft enough so that he will not be overheard "those guys scare me too but..."

...Ouch!" Did he say something she did not like because that hurt a lot more than the smiling. As much as the knights were the appointed protectors of Syliras with all their skills and duties that one was the bad guy here not him. More than that, Bob could not believe that the girl was this strong. Almost like one of those isurs that he had to wrestle with a few seasons ago, almost. Even then he was enticed by the possibility of gaining the adoration of all the lively ladies of Alvadas and here he knew that the girl was just expressing it since he saved her.

If only it did not hurt so much! Hopefully the girl will not notice that he was trying something he did against the isurs just to make it more tolerable. Using all his strength Bob tried his best in keeping his arms in place so that he could maintain a short gap between the girl's crushing arms and his ribs until she stopped. "Looks like I don't have to worry about the knight getting you" he said as he forced out a laugh to hide the breath he had to take "or any problems we'd find on the trip."

Someone must really be looking out for him if he could find someone which seems so strong before they even started. Would not be too good to waste something like this so he took it by asking "you know...maybe we should stick together on the trip." It was a pretty good suggestion for him but maybe the girl would need more persuading like "you won't have to rely on the scary knights too much." Now who would not want to agree with a proposition like that if they disliked the knights as much as Bob did?

[Talulah]

Talulah blushed and smiled sheepishly, quickly releasing him. "I'm sorry. I always forget how strong I am until I squish someone!" she said, adjusting her bow hanging from her shoulder. She listened to his offer, a little suprised, and smiled. "Sure! I know we have to get in groups but there's so many people I was a little nervous to approach anyone." She fidgeted a little and then said, "Hey do you know where there's some kind of weapons shop? I'm terrible at using the bow and I want to trade it in for a sword."

[Bob Barton]

Squishing? It was a lot more like crushing! That strength was what Bob needed in a mea...partner though. Would have been a lot better if "you could've approached me" since Bob could have been the least intimidating looking person among all those hardened knights and stone cold mercenaries. Must have all been Jason's fault by staying in the Spires since he might have looked like one of those angry gorillas because "I don't bite unless I really like something so you don't have to worry, much..." he suggested with a wink. She looked kind of young to understand what it meant but whether she did or did not made no difference for Bob. It will work out eventually.

And, he knew where to find the weapons shop. Surprise, surprise! Before she had the chance to try rejecting Bob's poorly hidden suggestions, he said "I've been there before. Wonderful service but even if you are poor with a bow, you should keep it. Better compared to me who does not know how to use it at all." Bob may be many things and although gentleman can be argued as not one of them, he still knew how to treat a lady. That meant not putting them in harms way if he could help it. The problem he was stuck with now is how to get her to think that without making it look like he thought she was weak, like the only reason why Bob would find her interesting.

Perhaps, maybe "you don't really need a sword..." Especially if there was a substantial cost involved because "you're going to need to buy armour" especially when everyone knows "the closer you are the more you need the protection." Even Bob needed to use armour since he used a sword even if no one could see him carrying it around unless he chooses to show it. To make sure it was still on him Bob gave a little pinch on himself to make sure. Yup, he felt the studs on that leather there so it means that he was as safe as can be in Syliras even if it was full of knights. Worth the price even if "they're expensive."

"But if you are lucky maybe you can find someone who can give you a good deal." Bob was when he was going to make his customized weapon and since this girl was with him his luck might just rub of on her. On their way to the Ironworks, Bob remembered to ask the girl "what is your name?" and also to say that "you can call me Bob unless you want to call me a hero." Even if he was laughing at that last part as if it was a joke he would really have liked it if a cute girl like her would have called him her hero.

Luckily they were not too far from the Ironworks and reached there quite fast. Standing at the front Bob offered "I can help you if you want or I'll take a look around until you're done so we can talk about the..." very, very secret thing that had to be explained by the Grandmaster behind closed doors which made Bob whisper "mission.'

[Talulah]

Talulah listened to his reasoning but stubbornly shook her head. "Uh uh. I want a sword so that I can not only protect myself but also so I can protect Jewel." She said, eyes glinting some as the fire of her protectiveness for her horse coursed through her. She rubbed her gloved hand as she continued. "I'll protect her to my last dying breath if I had to." She walked with him in silence until they reached their destination. Talulah laughed a little as he introduced himself and said, "I'm Talulah Coldwind." She smiled and playfully punched his arm, making sure not to put too much force into it. "Well can you show me where the weapons place is so I don't get lost again?" she asked then smiled warmly and added, "Hero."

[Bob Barton]

"Jewel?" Bob asked a little bit surprised. Was Talulah already in a team with another person? She seemed rather passionate about Jewel too. Thank the gods that no self respecting man will allow himself to be known as Jewel so in a sense Bob still had a chance? Yup, Bob's guess was proven when she referred to Jewel as her but to the extent of dying breath was still unsettling. Maybe she was into women? Then sadly Bob will have no chance unless maybe he went after Jewel if she came along.

And since Bob did not want to know too much about Talulah and her Jewel yet, he did not try breaking the silence until they reached the Ironworks. Feigning some pain in that not strong punch to his arm with an "ouch" Bob asked her "why did you do that for?" while giving it a rub suggesting that "my mom used to give me a kiss to feel better" and waited for a while slightly leaning towards Talulah before admitting "too bad she isn't here" which was the only true thing to it. Bob's mother died a long time ago.

What was true is that Bob was leading her to the Ironworks and she did not even realize that "we are already here?" By the looks of it she did not seem to confident about being in the city so Bob chose to take the initiative and invited her rather quickly, pulling her hand saying "lets go in." They found the isur there but Bob was looking for someone else that he already used before. "Do you know where is Marcus? That uhhhh...squire?" if he already did not get promoted to becoming a knight. Probably foreseeable that the isur did not know where the man was since the job Marcus did for Bob was on one of his last days.

However, they would not need Marcus for a new weapon. Bob told the isur that "she wants a new sword" and seeing that he has not really given up with the idea "maybe a longsword" looking back at Talulah to see if it was the one that she wanted. "Do you think that you can let her try out a few?" so that she can find the right one.

[Talulah]

OOCsorry I feel stupid now >_< I didn't know we were already there. I read the lore but this city still has me lost :/ Talulah followed Bob, trusting him to show her the way because she had no clue where to go or where they were. "With no sky, this city is like a big confusing maze. she thought to herself. She struggled to restrain her curious nature and not investigate every noise or interesting looking object. Just as she was starting to wander off, she heard Bob ask about Jewel. "Yes. I actually would never have earned my windmarks if my curiousity and stubborness hadn't helped me find my Strider. I was out hunting still, even though it was dark and the others had gone home because I hadn't got much of anything yet. Then I saw something glowing in the distance and I went to investigate. That's how I found Jewel." Talulah smiled and tried to explain her fierce protectiveness for her horse. "A Drykas and his or her Strider are bonded. When you bond with your horse, you earn your windmarks. Not only that but she's all I have left of home other than my mother's necklace." She looked at her gloves "My windmarks are on my hands but I'm ashamed to show them...." She stopped talking, a little embarressed that she had rambled on about her horse. Talulah laughed and rolled her eyes as he rubbed his arm. She bit her lip as he said his mother would give him a kiss to make it feel better and said he was sad she wasn't there. As they approached the Isur, her face turned scarlet as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. She nodded at his suggestion of a longsword and looked at her feet, still blushing.

[Bob Barton]

This was becoming unexpectedly effective. Bob had no idea what was actually going on right now. Was all this a reward for helping her from that evil knight or was this because it was one of the rare moments he was actually trying to be nice by not trying to hypnotize Talulah yet? Either way, it was working and he wanted to keep it up. It should not be hard if he did not do anything stupid and that is possible...right?

Actually not possible at all because Bob knew nothing about the drykas except that they are 'those horse people' and a few rumors that some petch their own horses. Bob was hoping that Talulah was not one of the latter sice she looked so nice and asked "what do you mean by bond? Is there something special that you need to do for it" besides investigating strange glowy thingys. "I like your hunting story" because it was quite impressive and hinted to Bob she will be pretty useful as hunter on the way to Sahova "but you shouldn't be too curious in the city. Its dangerous..." with all the crazies around. However, back to complimenting the woman with her most cherished thing "I'm sure Jewel is a beautiful horse, just like you. When can I see...her?" Bob was just about to say it just like every other animal he thought as dumb but stopped himself remembering how much she loved the animal. Unlike how he did his own dog.

Speaking about seeing, a mix of curiosity made Bob ask "what is a windmark?" That book he got from Sunberth a few seasons back told him a lot of interesting lines and maybe gave him some good advice like if he was lost, keep asking questions because apparently the ladies loved to feel important. It was against his better judgement when he saw the way Talulah was acting but he decided to follow it to the letter since he did not know any better. Hopefully she would not get too creeped out when he asked that "you can show it to me if you want. There's nothing to be ashamed of" and giving the excuse that "I got some strange marks too if you want to see it" on his arm. If Talulah did not mind showing him her windmarks, he would roll up his sleeve to show the hapchance mark that looked like just another tattoo if she wanted.

But back to the distraction of a sword. Maybe Bob should not have tried to trick a kiss out of Talulah because it might have embarrassed her. He was feeling a little big embarrassed too for tricking the innocentish Talulah and offered "I will...uhhh...try and find you a sword" before going off around the display. "Or do you want to find it yourself? I could look for a shield if you want one to go with your sword. Better to protect Jewel with" and get some time alone to regain his faculties. Hmmm...maybe he should get a shield of his own to use as well until he got better in shielding.