Carantathraiel

Wanderers

With a nod, Ruli started up the stairs, his bare feet finding the steps with practice as he wandered over the cliff toward the northern beach. When she asked about the baking and his dislike in eating the baked goods, he laughed. "I knew that was coming, to be honest." He grinned at her, fishing around in his pocket to withdraw a tie so he could pull his hair from his face.

As did he predict that second question.

He didn't answer until they were on the sand, strolling toward the small pile of charred wood that was the remains of his fire. "Both." Ruli answered, falling into a slow walk beside her. He felt anxious, but he reminded himself that she'd told him about her own scars, and with their few times in seeing each other unclothed, she never shied away from the marks on his skin.
Ruli inhaled.
"Think, slave. And then think lower." Ruli said. "Then, think dogs who are bred for viciousness and strength, and think slightly higher. That's what I was." He stared at the ground as he walked, very away of every move he made, every stray strand of hair the wind played with. Even aware of how warm he felt. "I didn't have a name until Envy gave one to me."

Wanderers

Ruli kept himself busy, not allowing himself to wonder what question she would ask. Truthfully, if it wasn't about either the poison or his dislike for sugary foods, he'd be surprised. He cooked about seven meals, not including their own, pocketing the coins offered to him, and taking his own bites of breakfast in between.

When Ed appeared, Ruli glanced his way and nodded in greeting, not failing to notice the marks the fuchsia-haired elf left on his neck. "Breakfast?" He asked, raising his hand to off Ed a plate of fried vegetables and egg wrapped in a flat toasted bread. He wasn't sure if Ysaryn would have remembered to feed him between latching onto him.

"So can I, if you need to go back." Ruli said to Kire when he'd finally finished. He wiped the sweat from his face with a cloth he kept at his side while cooking and rose to his feet, opening the door the step out. He sighed at once when the cool breeze hit him. "I'm not going to rescind the offer just because you're needed elsewhere."
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he looked her way. "We can go hunt down your boots?" He offered. "Or, if you'd prefer asking in private, we can head back to my house."

Wanderers

Ruli tilted his head in response, rolling his eyes. But he listened as he turned his attention to his task, working to get the flames the height he liked before he went to work chopping vegetables and meat. "That helps, I suppose." He said after he'd diced a few potatoes from the store bins near the wall.
"Fine. Before I regret it, after breakfast, before you go home, I'll give you one question that you get to ask. And I'm going to use this question to judge your intentions. So think carefully on it. Now," He gestured. "Hand me a dozen eggs from behind you."

Wanderers

"To Envy?" He asked, glancing at her again as he stepped inside the hall and took his usual place beside the fires. He motioned for her to sit beside him so he wouldn't have to talk too loudly over the few people that filtered in. "I said neither one of us has any expectations." Which wasn't untrue.
But her following comment, he had to think on it for a while.

"Its because I cook, isn't it?" Ruli asked, taking another glance in her direction. "Or, 'bake', more specifically?"

Wanderers

"Figured as much." Ruli answered. Like Ysaryn, Kire seemed to jump at the chance of a meal. "You did, but I'm sure they're around. Narda would have picked them up."
Likewise barefoot, he opened the door and led the way. Already, there were a few people loitering outside for the hearth the be lit and breakfast to be cooked.

"I wouldn't call it a hard time." Ruli offered. "He asked if I knew what I was doing. I think my half carrying you up to my house was a bit contradicting to my answer." He turned to glance at her, squinting in the reflection of the sunrise on the sea. "I, uh. I brought you there because I though Ysaryn and Ed, you know. It would be more restful. And warm. I hope its okay."

Wanderers

When Kire jogged down the beach to fetch the giantess, Ruli turned toward Envy, waiting. But Envy said nothing, appearing to wait patiently for Kire and Narda to return. "You can sit, you know. Fire is eigh- well, for you five steps ahead and one to your left."
So Envy shuffled forward, sitting when Ruli reached up to tap his arm.
"So, what did I interrupt?" Envy said at once, and Ruli sighed.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. Just talk."
"About sleeping, no. Continuing to sleep together?"
"Yes."
Even without the use of his eyes, Ruli could sense the piercing stare Envy gave him. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Its a temporary thing." Ruli answered. "Comfort. Take the edge off. I have no expectations. Nor does she."
Envy pursed his lips and shook his head.

They both fell quiet until Narda and Kire returned. Envy smiled, turning his attention to Narda, while Kire reclaimed her spot beside Ruli. With them, Elva and Zeke reappeared, the latter looking uncomfortable after so long on his feet on unsturdy ground, but offering no complaint. He was trying to hide it, but clearly failed as Elva left him the invitation to ask for her help before she departed. He quickly mumbled a need for rest and followed her up the stairs, branching off to head through to his house.

Ruli watched the fire, listening to Narda and Envy talk about the ocean, the appearances of fish dishes and the differences in they way the cooked them, and so on. "I think I'm heading up." Ruli said quietly, causing a pause in Envy's sentence. "Narda, I'll take her and lay her down, okay? I'll make sure Ed takes her back in the morning."
The way she smiled at him said she assumed far too much out of his comment. Envy remained silent as Ruli stood and gently grabbed Kire, prompting her to her feet. "Come on." He encouraged, getting her upright and wrapping an arm around her.

It was slow going, but they made it to the stairs, and then upward. After the first flight, Ruli wondered where he'd let her lay down. Ysaryn and Ed had claimed the house Kire would usually lay in. Plus she was still damp, even after all the time by the measly fire. "Don't make assumptions out of this." He muttered to her before directing them to his house.

It was warm inside, the heart glowed low and illuminated the walls in a soft orange, and the shudders were closed to keep out the wind. "Lay down." He said, guiding her to the bed. He watched her recline, sitting himself on the end of his mattress. She was already half asleep, digging herself into the mattress, the warmth of the house and bed claiming her.
The sight made him happy. No expectations. He'd said to Envy, and he wondered if that was still true.
Sighing, Ruli grabbed a spare blanket from his chest of drawers and wrapped it around himself, laying himself down on the edge of his bed to sleep.

~

Her breathing, though admittedly without snoring, woke him, and Ruli opened his eyes suddenly. Part of him had forgotten he had a guest. He had shifted, tucking himself further against her as the embers died and the room cooled. He turned his head to study her, glad to see her face was flushed with warmth and she'd managed to avoid a cold.
The last thing the empress needed was to be ill so quick after her coronation. Or whatever that was. I’m going to abdicate my throne. Ruli chewed on that statement, and what it could mean for her. Or them. But he cut that thought off quickly and sat up. No expectations.

"Morning." He greeted, noticing her movement. Ruli watched her over his shoulder, his elbows on his knees. "I'm about to head to the hall to make breakfast. Want a plate? My treat."

Wanderers

"Well, I, I'm not sure." Ruli admitted. "Bit foggy on the conversation. But I think I meant because, ... you won. You're not fighting another war. You wouldn't need me. But, I suppose, also yes. Because you're not living with her anymore."

When she commented on last time, he glanced toward her again. "It was, yeah." He agreed, glancing down at the sun again.

A clearing of a throat made Ruli spin, spotting g the Kartaian making his way down the stone steps. Shit. "Envy?" Ruli asked. "Do you want help?"
"After managing six flights on my own, I think I can manage the last four steps." The Kartaian answered. He stepped onto the sand and cautiously made his way toward the sound. "Where is everyone?"
"Went to walk."
"Even Narda?" Envy turned his head wistfully.
"Mmhm."
Envy turned his head back, growing silent. Ruli wondered what, of all that, the elf had heard. Envy's expression have away nothing. "And you two?" Envy asked gently, probing. "Not in the mood for a walk?"

Wanderers

Ruli chuckled softly at her. "You could try." He quipped.

"And, yeah, I think it was more because it was the proper thing. Sort of trumped his insistence that we stay apart." Ruli grabbed another fistful of sand, likewise cold, and likewise unwilling to leave.

"Elva asked about us." He said suddenly. "I think shes tired of us sharing a bed under her roof. I told her that wouldn't be a problem anymore. But if she's asking, I assume everyone knows. Not that Ysaryn was subtle about it."

Wanderers

"Not fighting it was the easy part." Ruli said as a dismissal, even if he didn't shrug her embrace away. He went as far as to put his hand on her arm to accept it.
"You're not the only one who will throw himself into harms way to protect others." Ruli pointed out. "Guess we're both idiots like that."

Ruli glanced toward her, smelling the sea water and the smoke from his small fire on her skin. "And you're right. I think I know you more than I think I do. I know you like sweets. You're protective of family. Incredibly stubborn. And you snore like thunder storm." He added with a teasing smirk.

Wanderers

Zeke chuckled. "Yeah." He sighed. "I used to do well enough in the romance area. But I was captain of the guard, a well honed fighter. Ladies liked that, I suppose. But ... well. Alot changed when Ziad was razed to the ground. More than just our home or our way of life. I suppose you'd understand that, having taken refuge in the mountains."

~

For some reason, her reaction to his reply made him feel guilty again. Like he'd hurt her without intended, even if his answer was the one that should have hurt less. "If you ask me, running into quests sounds a lot easier than trying to run a kingdom. Or empire." He put in. "But travel, that makes sense. You already have seen more worlds than most people can say in a lifetime. Thanks to you, as have I, so. Guess you have some competition.

And then she brought it up. Faced him and asked if he was alright, and about the poison. Ruli clicked his tongue and turned his head. "Kire," He sighed, looking along the beach, away from her. "I'm alive, aren't I?" He asked, looking down to grab a handful of sand, and letting the grains pour from between his fingers.
"I had one thought when they dosed me with it. When I knew it was strong and would kill me. That it was meant for you. That he thought I was you, and that you would be the one to step forward. That that poison was meant for you. Again. And I decided that I would accept it." Ruli rubbed at the healing gash on his cheek that would be another scar to add to his collection. "It meant you lived. That you didn't have to experience it."