Carantathraiel

Wanderers

Ruli definitely liked Daryll. "That latter is vague, as I'm assuming everyone here nag her constantly." He dug into his dinner as Narda and Kire spoke, and then the discussion spiraled around the table. He enjoyed the fact that they had rules about battle talk around the younger girls, which was a rule they also had themselves long ago in Ziad. Why Envy's personal chambers were usually warded against sound to prevent eavesdropping, even if the children believed it was to allow Envy to sleep without hearing the entire tunnel system projecting every voice.

He was quiet, feeling oddly out of place while the family caught up on recent adventures, learnings, and visitors. This sort of close knit, sit-together-over-dinner family had been something he hadn't had in a long time, not since it had just been himself, Zeke, and a few others in the tunnels of Ziad. When they became too many to sit at one table, dinners had become more of a eat when you can, sit where you can thing. Ruli found it pleasant. Something he hadn't been aware that he missed.

"Goodnight, ladies." He grinned at the two as they departed, waving his hand before gathering his drink. Perhaps he could slip away again, allow the cousins and Narda to converse, until Kire mentioned his return to his world, and the gathering of Ysaryn. As Daryll made his evidently surprising revelation that he wanted to participate in the war council, Ruli studied him, then raised his eyebrows as the man addressed him again.
"I'm not sure if Kire mentioned, but I used blood runes, myself." Ruli admitted. "Her blood, precisely. With permission, but still. Its likely why it was able to overpower their magic, if you ask me. Whatever dormant magic runs in your blood, and is amplified by Kire's Ring." He glanced sidelong at Kire to see if she'd revealed this information to them, knowing how taboo it was. "But it was easy enough. Blood or no, even the girls would be able to perform them. Its as simple as another language."

Wanderers

Ruli grinned to Etta. "It goes well with everything." He chimed in, proud. But as Etta asked about cake once more, and Kire answered that he does, he whipped his gaze to her. How had she known that? He'd made no comment before, and hadn't baked in far over a year, with the exception of bread. Envy. Ruli sighed, glad for Elva's sudden appearance. There was so much of the healer disposition that reminded him of Envy. Kind and concerned, but parental and firm where necessary. Plus she smoked; which wasn't entirely uncommon, in his world, or possibly this one, but it brought familiarity, all the same.

As the last of the cousins entered, Daryll, Ruli turned his head to study this one. Instantly, Ruli liked him. Long hair, boring clothing, an air about him that said no bullshit. Of course, most of Kire's family had that sort of outlook, but Ruli supposed having to deal with Kire engrained that into them. He did, however, sneak Kire a look when Daryll said being yelled at wouldn't help.

"To be honest, I wasn't aware she had any other setting." Ruli answered. "You're Daryll, then? Your name has come up quite a bit." Ruli's eyes moved around the room, half expecting Ed to come strolling in. Then he felt uneasy. They really just ate while Ed was on the battlefield? As if this were just an every day thing? Feeling no desire to stir the pot over dinner, Ruli kept quiet on the matter, his back straight in his seat.

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."