Carantathraiel

Wanderers

"She'll be happy with anything." Ruli assured. "Though, I'm willing to bet she'll ask for two, so maybe anything that can be combined as a dual blade." He shrugged, holding a portion of bread and turning it idly with his fingers.
As Kire went on to say she confirm she could understand elvish, he chuckled. "I should have known you'd insist on learning." Ruli mused, grinning at her. "No, I'm not fond of it. Ysaryn was in the middle of one of her rants and called Risa an evil creature, Úvano, and Risa liked the sound of it. I would much rather continue calling it Ziad." He shrugged again. "Risa said it sounded enough like the words our neighbors use in their language, and decided, despite having absolutely no idea what it means or why Ysaryn chuckles whenever she hears it."
Ruli shook his head. "Its not a horrible name, though. The elves had decided it to be a warning. That we house something evil in our city, and she wears tight fitting dresses and could kill you with her nose."

He fell quiet when he heard footsteps, adjusting in his seat as if to make sure his posture didn't suggest anything indecent had happened. Anything except for bread. The face that peered in made Ruli pause, however, as a far too familiar face peered in. She could be Lree. Ruli realized, staring at the young girl as she swept in and curtsied. Suddenly very unsure of how to respond to a curtsy, Ruli only nodded. "Hello, Lady Etta." He greeted, watching the girl with interest. She hardly spoke like the twelve year olds of his world, and vaguely recalled mention of Kire's world and their aging.

As Kire and Etta spoke, about her injury, about his bread, and what else he could do, Ruli simply remained still, listening. He was spared from answering from Kire, though he was condemned to many future questions over dinner, he was sure. He needed to mentally prepare for that. "And you." He called after Etta when she left the room once more.

"When you're," Ruli began, then paused. "ah, nevermind." Changing his mind, Ruli moved to open the door, wandering back toward the great hall with Kire at his side.

Ruli greeted Narda with little more than a nod, his gaze shifting to the girl beside her. The other young cousin. Finally, a name that didn't begin with 'E'. "Ruli." He returned in introduction, sizing this one up. She had the critical eye that Envy often wore. She saw more than she admitted, and knew more than she spoke, this one. And a sharp tongue, Ruli realized with a smirk as Precy teased Kire about the conversation between Elva and who Ruli guessed would be Daryll.
"Like it will make a difference with you." Ruli muttered, taking a seat far from what he assumed the head of the table would be.

Wanderers

"No." Ruli voiced. "But you're pretty red, so I have an idea." He said, amused. After a moment, he tilted his chin toward her arm. "Don't hide it under the table. Its an injury. You know I've had my share." He pointed out, trying to encourage her not to mind the arm. Or the insinuation that she was an animal. "And who am I to judge if you've had a rough few months. You're fighting a war. Frankly, had I the option and were in your shoes, I would be at your door twice a week."

Ruli picked another small bit of his bread and ate it. "You do realize Ysaryn will kill you, right? And me, for that matter?" He asked, changing the topic. "You might need to hand her her own Amrian sword to make her less violent. Ironically."

Wanderers

Ruli inhaled, then sighed, same as she did. "I don't know." He answered. "I think you're not listening to either of our requests, really. Mine or Envy's. And somehow I'm... I wouldn't go so far as to say glad, but I'm not upset by it." He admitted, still staring at his bread.

Until he stole a glance to her bed. "Its something you have to get over. So it's more than just what it was, initially. And you seem fine with that. So," Ruli shrugged. "nothing is going to happen with your arm like that." He insisted suddenly.

Wanderers

Ruli pursed his lips and frowned. To be sure about how she felt. And, months back, she'd come to his world, tempted to knock on his door, only to leave before doing so. Then, today, thinking she would die, her near-last thought...

"So you've thought this over alot, then." Ruli realized. "Six months, and you're still, I mean. Somehow you haven't lost interest." Ruli said, more toying with his bread than eating it.

Wanderers

"You said you wanted the bread." Ruli said informatively. He gestured, as if to say 'so I made you bread'. He tore off a small.piece of his, chewing it thoughtfully. "Whatever is in the ointment they gave me, I want to know. And I slept with an ice pack on my back. It melted. I forgot ice does that. My bed is soaked."

When she brought up Envy, his gaze shot up, staring Kire down. "He did what?" Ruli asked, his voice sharp. "No, he didn't. What did he say? You mentioned some promise you made to him. Did he ask you to leave me alone? Careful about what, exactly?"

Wanderers

Somehow, he had the mental image of her catching the bread with her mouth if he tossed it. But he said nothing about it as he stepped in and handed her the plate. He sat beside her, letting her eat. When she offered, he took half of the one, nibbling at it. "Ingredients were tougher to find. But it's a simple recipe. Almost every kitchen as what's needed."

When Kire went on, Ruli glanced at her. "Its ... I don't know. Not stupid. Just. A need." Ruli offered. "No, you can't always help feelings, and I feel like you're not going to forget about it just because I don't understand." He offered a shrug.
"I think dinner might be soon, these should go decently with what I saw on the stove. Most of what I imagine is cooked here would go well with it. Few different spices, and it'll go with everything. It's a good poor man's food."

Wanderers

He left, closing her door behind him and made his way to find Elva. Instead, he was met by her healers, and despite his knee-jerk reaction to decline and care for himself, he obeyed and let them look him over. It was only a bruise, though his muscles were horribly sore, so after the ointment was rubbed on his back -the action of letting anyone touch him and his scarred back made him visibly uncomfortable- and he was offered ice, Ruli left again, nodding in thanks to their direction.

Only, he went back to his room, the ointment already working and his body tired from shuffling about. Ruli made it to his bed, lay down with the ice propped onto his back, and slept again.

Near dinnertime, he woke once more, giving his body an experimental wiggle. Much better. Ruli sighed, relieved, and made a note to ask Elva what was in the ointment.
But he was cold. The ice had melted, soaking the cloth, his clothing, and the bed beneath him. He'd forgotten that important detail, that ice melted when it warmed. Groaning, Ruli got up and peeled off his wet tunic, trading it for one from the wardrobe. He was half certain it was the same one as before. He tugged it on, then a pair of thick breeches, and slid on the boots again before he stepped out.
After catching a servant to request new bed linen, insisting that he hadn't had an accident, he found his way to the kitchen.

He introduced himself as a guest of the Empress, and explained her desire for flatbread, and wondered if he could borrow ingredients for it. Once allowed, he set to work, standing in a corner to mix, knead, and shape the dough. The softer actions of it, at least, far more gentle on his aching back.
It was an easy recipe, at least. Ruli's most difficult task was trying to translate then sniff out the spices and herbs he wanted, aware the manor cook was watching him curiously.
He made enough for a dozen hand-sized breads. Leaving several for the cook and the others in the kitchen to try before he shuffled through the house again.

To Kire's room. Ruli knocked gently again and opened the door, peering in before he spoke in case she slept. "Delivery." He said, shifting to present the plate of bread. "Do I just toss to you like a tossdisc or may I come in?"

Wanderers

Her argument made him feel thick. He knew men, in general, were often thick and needed things explained to them in the simplest of ways before they could understand it, but for most things, Ruli hadn't been one of them. Until this. Until her. Kire made him feel stupid.
Stupid for the fact that she had to say it. Stupid for the fact that he still didn't really understand. Stupid for the fact that he had to ask "Why?"

He raised his arm to wave his hand, tensing at the action. "No, I mean. Fuck." Ruli arched his back, trying to fight for a little more mobility. "I get that you and I don't shy away from each others scars. And that you don't have easy pickings as ... you. For people to let off steam with. But... me?" He asked, puzzled. "I-" he bent his arm to squeeze the bridge of his nose.

"Nothing I saw here is not going to erupt into a fight." Ruli realized before he pushed himself to his feet, hating every movement. "I need to see your cousin. Get some rest." Ruli unintentionally ordered, shuffling toward her door. "Point me in the direction of your kitchen, and when I can walk again, I'll make a whole plate of flatbread. And knock on your door afterward."

Wanderers

He made a face when she asked about the name of the city, considering she made it sound as if she understood it. And mentioned Ysaryn, who was the reason for the name, in a way. He didn't pull at the line of questioning, focusing instead on the one he really wanted to know, about her random visit to the seaside cliffs before she abruptly turned around again to leave.

Him. To blow off more steam, he knew without needing to ask. And there was that mention about Envy. Ruli's brow furrowed. Her word to him was that she would have a legitimate reason to visit, not just him. What would she have been ask by Envy? Why couldn't he tell Envy about this?

Silence circled them. Ruli wasn't sure what to say, but somehow felt the silence was worse. He cleared his throat and naturally when to shift, only to immediately regret that idea, as well. Exhaling, he settled back into the chair, reminding himself not to move. "So." He said, still uncomfortable. Still not sure what to say. What to ask. "Today, you just ... wanted one more lay? Die satisfied?" Ruli frowned at her. "I can't tell if I need to be insulted or flattered."

Wanderers

The flatbread? Ruli wanted to question her for that, considering it was the most bland and basic thing he could make, and little more than something to accompany the real meal.

There was also something about the look on her face when he asked why he'd been brought here, and the body language as she answered him. A hiccup. Liar. Ruli thought noticing the way she couldn't meet his eyes. And, while he was very intrigued about her request not to tell Envy, his nodded, inviting her to continue.
To that.
Holy Gods.
Ruli blinked. Then swallowed. Maybe it wasn't what he automatically assumed, and that she only thought of him because, ... maybe his wards would have been a help. Maybe he could have gotten her out safely, like he'd done with her in Cordon, yanking her out of the collapsing mine before it crushed her.
But then she added the last portion, about how she thought about not seeing him again, and Ruli felt his mouth went dry. "I-" He began, then faltered. "That still doesn't really answer my question." He admitted. He didn't move, mostly because he didn't want to lift his arms.
"You changed your mind." He added suddenly. "A few months ago. I felt you come to Úvano. Er, the city. But you left."