[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color] and [color=#d3d3d3]Eve “Grayscale”[/color][/h2][/center] [hr] The trip back to Kugane passed rather uneventfully—almost pleasantly, if it weren’t for the amount that some of the Kirins were worrying over Esben along the way. There was something comforting about it, knowing that the motley assortment could come together so easily...but it was more than a little annoying as well. Enough so to surpass any bother over his nose, which he’d have to have properly set and fixed in the city. For a man that prided himself on his capabilities, coming from being the one to devise the plan that freed Lord Hien only to find himself utterly disarmed by the climate and almost immediately knocked out of a fight was a shame that was nearly unbearable. No matter [i]how[/i] much any of them had reminded him how close to death they all had come, and that the fact he didn’t find himself cleaved in half on the first strike despite being so incapacitated by the desert was a strong mark in his favour. His nose twitched in annoyance, and he immediately brought a hand up to it; while the swelling may have subsided fairly quickly, it was still very recognizably [i]broken.[/i] Hopefully it hadn’t begun healing enough that he’d have to have it re-broken just to get anything done. [color=#b3ccff]”Terrible,”[/color] he mumbled to himself, taking a sip of water and looking up at the stars over the central courtyard. Many of them were beginning to fade, with sunrise not far away—the growing hint of light off to the east made that obvious enough. Still, it was early enough that none of the others were awake yet, only the various servants that had followed Ciradyl and Hien into rebellion as they quietly prepared breakfast for the estate and its guests. Quietly enough—alongside the silence of the still-sleeping city—that the soft footfalls behind him didn’t manage to escape his notice: [color=#b3ccff]”I hope you’re not trying to sneak up on me back there.”[/color] As per usual, Eve was awake, she had always been awake outside of those rare occasions where she depleted her ether reserves, and taking night walks was one of her ways to pass the late evenings, or sit down and brood, but tonight, she was partial to the former. As such, it was simply pure coincidence that her path crossed with the group's espionage specialist, though he made it seem like she was deliberately following him, flattering, but unfortunately untrue, this was a different situation than Atsu's, back there, she [i]did[/i] tail Izayoi to her family's grave. Although... [color=d3d3d3][b]"You caught me."[/b][/color] The Pseudolon uttered with such stoicism, it would indeed take someone as keen as Esben to discern whether she was being sarcastic or not, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I suppose this means you won't be my dinner tonight, shame, it has been a while since I hunted a Sollan."[/b][/color] Her red eyes then scanned over the Skaeler's visage, particularly the spot between his cheeks, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I find it difficult to believe that Miina hasn't fully healed your face yet."[/b][/color] She was no healer though, maybe some things just couldn't be healed magically...? [color=#b3ccff]”Mmm. Not as nice to look at now, am I?”[/color] Esben joked, one eyebrow raised as Eve studied his nasal fracture so intensely. He stoppered the bottle he’d been drinking from, setting it on the paving stones by his feet. The journal he’d been writing in snapped shut around his pencil, set next to him on the bench he’d pulled out into the courtyard. [color=d3d3d3][b]"Wounded body parts are never as nice to behold as healthy ones."[/b][/color] Eve spoke matter-of-factly, an objective statement based on practical knowledge and peer-reviewed scientific research no doubt. After a moment to shrug at her reply he moved over slightly, making some room for Eve if she decided to sit. [color=#b3ccff]”Bit late to be looking for dinner, though—if you’re looking for food as a novelty, you ought to start thinking about breakfast instead.”[/color] He glanced back at the slowly-brightening east. There was an hour left before sunrise and the morning meal, if he had to guess. [color=#b3ccff]”One of the servants said they might have me try something called [i]nattō,[/i] but wouldn’t actually explain what it [i]is.[/i]”[/color] By his tone and his expression, he seemed mildly worried about that lack of information. The scaled black mage simply stood beside the bench for the moment, up until Esben scooted over, a gesture of invitation she discerned, one that she took as Eve quietly sat down, her tail looping over to rest on her lap. [color=d3d3d3][b]"Heh, maybe I will."[/b][/color] She quipped back, following his gaze toward the dawning sun, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I don't know what that is either, Esben."[/b][/color] It'd either be a pleasant surprise or a nasty prank, she supposed. A momentary silence fell as the two enjoyed the slowly rising sun... [color=d3d3d3][b]"I've decided..."[/b][/color] Until Eve's soft voice gently shattered it, [color=d3d3d3][b]"...that I want to live."[/b][/color] She paused, her words hanging in the air, [color=d3d3d3][b]"It's what mama sacrificed herself for."[/b][/color] That explained at least [i]part[/i] of why she’d been even quieter than usual since they’d started on their ride back. Esben had had some inkling that she didn’t intend to survive her own private war against Valheim, even if she wasn’t quite as straightforward about it as Izayoi was with [i]her[/i] particular death wish...the confirmation that he’d been right, and that she’d decided to change her goal from that, gave him a moment of pause. Before his left hand rose, landing softly atop Eve’s head and ruffling her hair. [color=d3d3d3][b]"Nnngh..."[/b][/color] A soft groan that was somewhere between unamusement and annoyance left the dragoness' throat, she was being treated like an infant again, first by Galahad and now Esben. How uncouth, she was at least the same age or even older than he. Hmph. [color=#b3ccff]”Good to hear!”[/color] he replied quietly. [color=#b3ccff]”I was almost worried that wrangling the both of you would be too much, given everything that’s been going on lately.”[/color] [color=d3d3d3][b]"Both..."[/b][/color] She murmured as her mind referenced a certain Mystrel, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I see..."[/b][/color] She pondered, [color=d3d3d3][b]"It appears that deathwishing is a core aspect of Ospreyan culture."[/b][/color] Speaking about culture, the black mage found her curiosity piqued, [color=d3d3d3][b]"Tell me about Skael, Esben."[/b][/color] [color=#b3ccff]”Mostly, it’s cold,”[/color] came the quick reply. A silent pause afterwards; Esben was sure that wasn’t the answer Eve was [i]looking[/i] for, but he was still happy to leave a moment for the bland statement to sink in. [color=#b3ccff]”It depends a bit on where you are. Most of the places everybody knows about...they’re far enough south, and far enough inland, that the winter never really lets up. But the weather is harsh wherever you go. Thanks to it all, we spend most of our time inside, and are usually fairly...”[/color] He paused again, glancing meaningfully in the direction of Éliane’s room. [color=#b3ccff]”Soft-spoken.”[/color] The horned girl listened attentively to the spy's reminiscence of his homeland, confirming that Skael stayed true to its reputation as the place of eternal winter. [color=d3d3d3][b]"..."[/b][/color] The glance toward the salmon-haired military officer's abode was noted. Eliane was an exception that proves the rule indeed. The words hung for a moment before he continued; [color=#b3ccff]”Of course, Skaellers usually don’t talk so much in general. We’re both outliers, I suppose.”[/color] This time his silence lasted longer, his fingers—rather than continuing to test how long he could get away with messing with Eve’s hair—drumming softly on her head for a moment. He’d been away from home for quite a while, whether one took that to mean Skael in general or the [i]specific[/i] place he hailed from. Blank as his expression was, it was clear he was still thinking about something...before he yawned, and spoke again. [color=#b3ccff]”But that’s based on a generalisation, anyways. It’s not all Solitude and the Garden, after all. That would be like assuming all of Osprey is just like Kugane.”[/color] The fact these two were travelers of an otherwise isolationist society already hinted at them being the odds one out. Although, on another note, she noticed that Esben seemed content to use her scalp as an armrest. It was... peculiar, usually most people wouldn't like to be near, let alone touch her. But at this point, it was obvious that the Kirins weren't most people. [color=d3d3d3][b]"That's fair."[/b][/color] She concluded, then turned her gaze back at the rising sun, content to simply enjoy the quiet for now. [color=#b3ccff]”What do you intend to do once we’re all done with this, with the new willingness to survive?”[/color] Esben asked, breaking the quiet once again. [color=#b3ccff]”Travel around, or find some place to stay?”[/color] The Faux Bahamut stayed silent for a few long seconds, out of a lack of a good answer more than anything. [color=d3d3d3][b]"I haven't thought about it yet, all I know is that I won't go out of my way to end myself once this is all over anymore."[/b][/color] She paused once more, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I guess travelling around would be nice, helping good people and exterminating bad people as I go, like Robin.”[/b][/color] [color=#b3ccff]”Alone?”[/color] [color=d3d3d3][b]"We’ll see. We’re not even sure if the world won’t end yet."[/b][/color] Esben sighed, his arm dropping back down. [color=#b3ccff]”A little optimism doesn’t hurt,”[/color] he chided. [color=#b3ccff]”Sometimes I worry I may never get to do anything [i]but[/i] travel, even knowing that someday I won’t have a choice whether or not I go home.”[/color] Whether he had anything more to say about that topic, nothing more came out, replaced by another yawn instead. And a jump from one topic to another. [color=#b3ccff]”Do you [i]ever[/i] actually sleep?”[/color] he asked, glancing back down towards Eve. [color=#b3ccff]”Not just when you spend too much aether, and I know you don’t [i]have[/i] to otherwise—but just slipping into a deeper rest, like when any of us take a nap beyond our normal sleep.”[/color] She glanced in return toward Esben as well, mostly wondering just what kind of 'sleep' he meant here, because the easy answer would be yes, she had slept before. Fortunately, he clarified the exact definition he was hinting at, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I meditate sometimes, deeply enough that time seems to flow faster, that should count as a 'nap' I suppose."[/b][/color] Although speaking of sleep, [color=d3d3d3][b]"You've been yawning frequently, didn't sleep properly last night?"[/b][/color] Might be due to all the injuries. [color=#b3ccff]”Not whatsoever,”[/color] Esben replied. Unsurprising; with a broken nose obstructing his breathing, sleep would be coming less readily than usual. Though whether that was just due to the breathing or the brand new sound of light snoring, who could say? [color=#b3ccff]”Do you dream?”[/color] [color=d3d3d3][b]"During the few times where I exhausted myself enough to fall unconscious, I suppose..."[/b][/color] Then her voice trailed off at the end, as if she had just recalled a crucial piece of information, but one she wasn't particularly fond of remembering, [color=d3d3d3][b]"...and during those times when [i]they[/i] sealed me like a pickle in a jar."[/b][/color] [color=#b3ccff]”What sorts of dreams, then?”[/color] [color=d3d3d3][b]"Wishful dreams for the most part, to be accepted, to be loved, to be... human."[/b][/color] Eve murmured with the same wishfulness as those dreams. Her gaze descended down to stare at her knees, [color=d3d3d3][b]"...but I feel like two of those are being fulfilled, by all of you, including by someone whose life's work involves slaying dragons."[/b][/color] She sighed pleasantly and curled a small smile, [color=d3d3d3][b]"Then, what about you, Esben? Don't tell me you scheme and plan in your dreams too?"[/b][/color] ...no answer. She turned her gaze at him, finding the Skaeller agent sitting still with his eyes closed, prompting Eve to cast a little cantrip, conjuring a weak breeze to prod against his cheek... and like a rotten dead tree, the blonde's upper half fell sideways... and right onto her lap. [color=d3d3d3][i]Asleep...[/i][/color] She concurred, good, he needed the rest. Though she wished her talents included restorative magic to heal him as he slumbered, she supposed this would do instead of nothing. With a small, calm smile, Eve’s hand began methodically caressing his pale golden locks while her eyes closed as she fell into a meditative state, her 'nap'.