"Well, apologies are in order then. Sorry, Crow." Arsenio spoke, keeping a loose hand around the 'boy's' shoulder as he walked 'him' out of the alley. They were headed for the Drunken Unicorn, the inn that had suddenly become incredibly popular with the entire town. While never digging his fingers in, he did direct the apparent boy with enough force to show that he wasn't messing around.
She blinked at the easy apology. Something that wasn't common in her life. Gruff thanks might be given, but rare was the person who could admit their wrongs. Ravyn was among that group of 'can't admit wrongs'. It went hand in hand with being a Procurer- as she prefered to be called.
"Darn right they are!" She huffed, still keeping up the gruff act of being a insulted boy.
"An' I aint going to run off if yer payin' for food." She admitted the partial truth. It wouldn't hurt for him to let go. Also, if he did, she'd be able to bolt off if things turned bad. Something she was quite good at.
Arsenio considered what his companion said for a long moment as they walked, then let go of 'his' wrist. He decided that if his new friend would run off, it wouldn't be much of a problem for him. The two neared the inn quickly, and went inside just in time to see a very tall man and a woman in black clothing walk off outside. The Glacian directed the boy to a table and went up to the bar to order a couple of meals, coming back to wait for them for awhile.
Ravyn moved subtly to put Arsenio between her and the exiting giant and woman. Both rather- exotic to the urchin's eyes. Her eyes, however, felled to the adorable pup. She was sorely tempted to smother the adorable animal, but food was a tad more important at this particular moment. Thus now she sat, hunched in the table. Fidgitting slightly with the unnerving sense of people watching. Not that they were, but it was troublesome. Ravyn made her life out to avoid trouble, even if she fell constantly in it. Her eyes constantly scanned the room, as she offered little to no conversation. She didn't want to give away anything to this man.
The Glacian broke the silence pretty quickly. [color=FFEF94]"What brings you to Hyall?"[color=FFEF94]
"I live here." She lied. He didn't need to know the reason.
The Glacian's eyes narrowed, picking out the tone of the boy's voice.
"You shouldn't lie to someone buying you a meal," he ordered, looking over to the bar to check if the food was ready. It wasn't yet.
She frowned, kicking her feet absently.
"You said food, you never said I had to be honest." Ravyn grumbled.
"Given. But it would be appreciated if you were straight forward with me." He looked up as a woman that was obviously a courier approached and handed Arsenio a letter, not even waiting for a thanks before she was gone to presumably deliver more messages. The Glacian drew the knife affixed to his shoulder and sliced open the top of it, blade cutting right along the fold. From within he pulled a neatly written letter, eyes scanning it quickly as he returned his dagger to its scabbard.
He set it down gently and folded his hands after finishing the telegram, looking up at the boy across from him.
"Queen Heketah has taken an interest in me, and you're invited as well. We'll need to stop somewhere and purchase you some new clothes, of course," he paused for a moment as he got up, the smell of 'fresh' food wafting over as he came back with both of their meals a short minute later.
"Can't go to a ball without the proper dress."Giving a wary glance at the courier as she approached, the self-proclaimed 'Crow' shrunk in her seat. Naturally not wanting to draw attention. This was doubled when the Glacien was handed the letter and as he read it. Even more so when he said that the
Queen had taken interest in her. That was not good in the slightest and nearly drove her off the smell of food. Though she dug in with a greedy look. Surely the Glacien would not want some ratty street urchin to join him to some great ball or whatever.
His next set of words put end to that hope as her head snapped up. Her eyes narrowing at the man.
"Not going. She stated firmly. Her fork gripped almost too tightly. Her body tensing to bolt. She was not going to some ball. Especially not in Hyall. Nothing good happened in Hyall. She should have remembered that!
"The clothes are already paid for, and there will be plenty of food. And maybe a number of Kindred there, too," he added, sliding the invitation along the counter to the 'boy.' He started to peck at his food idly, waiting for a definitive yes or no.
Ravyne seemed to debate for a second, still eating, before she snatched the letter up and scanned it's contents. She could read, decently. It wasn't like her sort to know the fancy words that the aristo lot made up in their free time. Her golden eyes narrowing at the thought this queen knew of her when the Glacien had barely snatched her up. She bit her lip. Did she have a choice not to go? If this Queen knew things so quickly, she doubted. Her appetite, however, was far from gone as she still dug into the food. But it held little enjoyment in the flavor department any more. Looking nervously to the Glacien she nodded slightly.
"I-I'll go. Just make sure I come back out, aye?" She left behind the gruff voice, her tune turning to a littering and far lighter sound. Perhaps this was one of those rare times to embrace feminie things if only to get this Queen off her tail. To get something from Hyall off her tail.
Arsenio's eyebrow raised while Crow's voice lightened, throwing doubt onto his sex. He took a moment to get a closer look at her proportions, seeing past the bulky clothing and shadows to his true self.
Her true self. Based on what he had seen of her so far, the caution with everything, the desperation, the hunger... he set his fork down and wiped his mouth with a napkin, more out of habit than mess removal.
"I'll keep you safe, don't worry... and you can wear a tuxedo, if that would make you more comfortable." He gave the girl a friendly look, one that showed he would keep his word if it killed him, though his mouth broke the expression quickly.
"I would like to know your real name, however. I'm Arsenio," he said, revealing the mystery of his name while expecting hers to come along soon.
Her shoulders hunched in defeat slightly as she shrugged at the offer to wear a tuxedo. A dress might be better if only because she had worn them once. Were boys suppose to walk a certain way as it was with a dress? Ravyn did nod slightly as he offered his name. However, her curiousity was sparked and questions poured out as quickly as a broken dam.
"What kind of name is Arsenio? It is common in Glacia? Do you really build your homes out of snow and rock just? I heard that's all that's up in that region. Too cold for me really, and nothing there to-" She cut herself before she revealed her 'procuring' nature.
"gather. I- My name... Ravyn. Ravyn Ghosteye." Ravyn finished lamely. Waiting for the shouts of theif, or ridicule that came with Ghosteye. When her eyes were nothing like her mother's ghostly grey.
Arsenio was mildly stunned at the sudden change in Ravyn once she dropped the persona. And Ghosteye, that was an interesting last name, there had to be some kind of story behind it, even if it was a moderately boring one. It still merited his interest, no matter the outcome.
"How about this; I'll answer any questions you have about myself and Glacia, if you tell me how you got a last name like Ghosteye. Does that sound fair?" He began to finish his meal, food on it slowly disappearing as time went on between the pair.
Ravyn frowned slightly. The steady tap of her finger on the table as she chewed at her lip before nodding.
"It's- My mother's name. Grey eyes." She shrugged, and tugged at her own short lock of silvery hair in example. The small theif saw no reason to explain her Dea Al Mon ancestry. Her mother had warned her not to reveal that too openly.
"It will cause too much trouble, little bird. Keep it close, keep it safe." Even after roughly six years, she still kept that secret as she was bid.
Arsenio nodded as Ravyn spoke, grasping much of her situation just by those few solemn words. He decided it wouldn't do her good to dwell on the subject for too long.
"Very well. What questions do you have for me?"An exasperated expression met his. The silent words of either 'you are an idiot' or 'did you even listen' clear on her face.
"What's the difference between a tuxedo and normal shit?" She was so done beating around the bush. He was a tad bit of a slow foriegner, this Arsenio was.
The Glacian thought for a short moment before answering.
"A tuxedo is an entire suit you wear for special occasions, like a wedding... or in this case, a ball. Normal 'shit,' as you put it, is for every day." he answered, beginning to rise.
"Come on, we'd better not waste time getting you an outfit." He started for the door, motioning for Ravyn to follow.
Ravyn blinked and grabbed a roll, nibbling it as she followed Arsenio. There was no reason not to she figured. She was faster- so long as she kept out of arm's reach. Which she was doing. If barely.
"And since you have that really bad case of old man memory..." She noted continueing her questioning.
"I asked if your name is common in Glacia? And what do you do with so much snow, as I've heard tell you make yer houses out of snow and stone. I mean- you need the trees for fire right? Or something? And why are balls so damned fancy? I mean, really- dresses are useless. And yes, I'm going to get stuck in one. You saw through my disguise." She grumbled the last part, very annoyed about it.
"Well," he began, left hand coming to rest on the crossguard of his sword in a natural fashion.
"I thought you were asking questions for the sake of saying something earlier," he explained. He then launched into the answers, speaking like someone used to presenting a case to others.
"There are very few with my first name. We export much of the snow, actually. People without Jewels need a way to keep produce from rotting, after all. Many of our houses are stone, though the smaller towns have a lot of wooden housing."He paused at the mention of balls as a certain light came to his face, like he was very familiar with the concept.
"They're fancy because everyone is there to impress, whether it be for a family or a nation. And dresses do have their uses, the larger ones can hide plenty of weapons or contraband, and the slimmer ones can be extremely deceptive. I've been in a handful of fights because an assassin hid a knife in a dress." He contemplated his next words as he walked, careful not to put the girl into a rut.
"I only saw through it because you rushed to make it. And even then, it took me a fair amount of time to figure it out. You could still get away with wearing the tuxedo if you'd like, I'm the only one that knows." His stride kept consistent, heading towards the Nosey Needle which was little more than a stone's throw from the Drunken Unicorn.
She blinked and frowned slightly.
"I don't think it'd be a good idea. Not if I'm not sure I can pull it off. I don't like this." She admitted albeit softly. Eyeing the Nosey Needle with distaste, she slowed her pace. Dreading the entire fiasco that was on the figurative horizon. Though her spirits were lifted by the mention of deadly daggers- a weapon she knew well enough.
"At least I'll be able to tell the whores from the killers." She chirped, cheekily. Already plotting where she could possibly get and hide a knife in a poofy- if useless- dress.
"If you're paying attention, absolutely. Now, let's go in and get you fitted for something." His right hand closed around the door knob and it swung open as he pushed it. The inside was something close to organized chaos, sheets of fabric everywhere as one short woman bustled around in an effort to serve many a customer at once. The woman from the inn was on a dais waiting to get her measurements taken, while the ridiculously tall man had taken up residense in a corner to observe the room.
"Do you want my help picking something out?" He started to wander slowly, browsing through the various fabrics that were either on display or scattered around the boutique.
Ravyn's eyes nearly bulged out of her head as she gapped at the scene before her. But there was the familiar ache in her hands. The itch some called it. Polishing off the roll, she stuffed her hands into her pockets.
"Dunno never been to a ball afore." Though in the hubbub she kept close to the Glacien. It seemed the safest bet right now.
The Glacian's arms folded and his right hand came up to his chin, elbow resting on his left wrist.
"Well, are you looking for something flashy or subtle? Large or slim?"The silver haired girl grumbled.
"Not noticable. Something I can hide a knife in." The last bit mumbled to herself under her breath.
"And how do you know about this stuff? Yer a man. Bit odd aint it?" Her suspicious look was securely locked onto him- then it wasn't as she eyed the pup on the other side of the store. The large Eryien however- didn't look like a welcoming figure. Best not to approach was written on his forehead in all the common tongues. So her golden gaze flickered back to the Glacien with a scrowl.
"I've had to learn a lot about functional fashion in my time as an ambassador. So subtle and capable of hiding a weapon..." he trailed off, browsing through some of the premade dresses. He took a darker dress off the wall soon, certainly modest and capable of hiding several weapons on the inner thigh.
"Well?" He held it up for Ravyn to get a good look at. While it was much too large for her, it could easily be tailored to fit her.
A shrug was his best response. Ravyn knew little of dresses than they cost money and were foolish in her eyes.
"It's a dress." Her tone alone was stating the disgusting obvious she was none too please about.
"Yes, but do you like it?""Like is the optimal word." She noted dismissively. Giving a 'prime and proper' snobbish sniff.
"It's a dress. It will do.""Very well. Tailor! When you have a moment!" he called, holding up the dress in an attempt to hail the tailor that was busy working on the man and woman, and pup at the moment.
