Completed Seeking Comfort

[Noah Amuel]

Noah withheld himself from immediately digging into the food that the waitress brought. Out of respect for his female companion he nodded in thank you to the waitress and scoured the coins off the table that he had placed there moments earlier. He paid the waitress for the meal and tipped her the two silvers. He was satisfied with his deed and his tip was met with a gracious thank you from the woman. Across from him he saw Elann pick at her food, not using the utensils that he was so used to seeing humans use when they ate. Was it a Benshiran tradition or was the girl just as uncivilized as he? Or, possibly, was this a moment where Noah stood as the more civilized one?

The girl stopped picking at her food and placed her small hands in her lap. She then shut her eyes and bowed her head slightly in what he assumed to be a prayer. Noah wondered what gods the girl believed in if she was praying. He had heard mentioning of Yahal before but couldn’t be sure. Then he thought of his own patron deity. Did he have to pray to Zulrav before every meal? Probably not. The God of the Storms didn’t need to be worshipped with such small things, did he? A mental shrug came upon Noah when Elann spoke.

She continued to pick at her food while she spoke and Noah found it cute in a way. The way she spoke, in a light and airy fashion, made the Kelvic feel more comfortable and secure in her presence and when she commented on how she saw him as human, if not better, he smiled despite his red eyes. “Thank you,” he said in his quiet way. “I appreciate it.”

He spoke no more as he looked down at his plate. The wooden saucer was filled with a roasted quail’s breast and legs, potatoes mashed with the yellow tinge of butter, and a nice golden brown roll of bread. It looked and smelled heavenly. When the smell was fully processed by the man’s senses his stomach growled and rumbled inside him and saliva was flooding his mouth. He glanced over to Elann as if apologizing for eating before he even began. When he did dig in, the quail was what he went for first, tearing off one of the roasted birds legs. He pulled and twisted the leg until it popped from its socket with a satisfying snap.

He used his hands as an extension of himself, using his calculated fingers to act with the precision of his beak, if he had been shifted. This lead to the bird being eaten in an orderly way, the only things that were greasy were his hands and mouth. He licked his lips when all that remained was the carcass and bones of the poor creature. Noah chewed slowly, his mouth overly full and looked at Elann. He smiled a happy smile as he was being truly satisfied by the meal, the rudeness of it all seemingly escaping the man’s thoughts entirely. He hadn’t even touched his potatoes or bread, the meat appearing to be what he wanted the most.

When he finally swallowed the glob of meat in his mouth he took a moment to catch his breath and muttered an apology to Elann. “I like you,” he said plainly, greased staining his lips. “You’re kind and helpful and small and cute. I like you a lot. You should stay in Syliras.” His eyes lingered on her a moment as he thought on more to say. When nothing came to his mind, he went back to meal, picking up the roll, biting it, before taking a spoonful of potatoes. He didn’t look back up at the woman across from him as he was preoccupied with his meal.

Ledger Deduction :

↓ 7 Silver Mizas
-- 5s Lunch
-- 1s Ale
-- 1s Tip

[Elann]

Surprised it took this long for him to dig into his foot, she watched as he finally looked down to his plate. The draw seemed too much for him. His focused eyes had met their target and even if she didn't know what type of animal he was, she could have guessed from his actions that he was some sort of carnivore. She hid her smile behind her piece of bread as he tore into it and loved to watch him eat. Perhaps it was her upbringing or culture, but they took delight in watching the men eat the food they cooked. She of course didn't make this meal but that same feeling was there. After a few seconds the smell of her own meal delighted her senses and she dipped her bread down into the juice of the quail leg. She though it interesting that quail was on their menu today because it was a bird even that could survive where she lived and was a delicacy for them. She just soaked up the bread for now though and took another bite. As she ate she hummed lightly to herself. It was a melody from home and was a spritely tune.

Elann's bites were small and precise, each one chewed in its time, yet Noah seemed to have a different method. He is was to stuff his mouth, however accurately and glob it all inside. She was used to the voracious appetites of the men who would come in from the desert heat so it wasn't so far of a sight from her. As he seemed pleased and smiled to her, she returned the smile and quietly picked up her ale to drink some of it. By the time she returned her glass down he had managed to swallow all of his full mouth, leaving her to wonder how much he even chewed his food. She giggled a little bit at his compliment to her that she was small and cute. She wondered about actually staying in Syliras. She figured she should thank him for his compliment.

With a voice devoid of any food she said, "Thank you, I might just do that." She didn't want to bring up the fact she missed her family or felt the longing to roam the desert and feel the sand of the dunes under her sandals. Noah went back to his meal and she happily continued with her own. She tried to observe what spices they used on the quail and the potatoes so that she could duplicate it herself. If quail was possible to get up here she would want to buy some of them. It was a whole new experience to cook for herself, but she had paid attention to her mother's cooking and so she hoped she would understand what to do. Probably about the time he was nearly done with his meal, she finally finished her bread and with two beak-like fingers she plucked a small piece of meat from the quail. It had been probably since the last spring since she had quail. It was after the locust swarms came through, then the quail would follow and would be so numerous that they would blot out the sky as they rode on the winds of the sands. Even though they numbered so many, they were still hard to catch, so with a careful study of its dimensions and the beauty of it, she plopped it into her mouth and chewed with delight. As she finished her piece of meat, it was likely that Noah was done and she pushed her plate towards him.

"Finish it. I am nearly full." She had a truthful face on her and she at the last minute plucked one last fiber of meat from the quail to satiate her desire. She put it in her mouth and chewed on it a long while.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Even though the Kelvic was preoccupied with eating, he listened to Elann’s suggestion that she might stay in Syliras and that delighted the man. Quickly he slurped up his potatoes by shoveling the mashed vegetable into his mouth with his spoon. He then went to his bread that was consumed in a few quick and big bites. When the man was finally done, he was near full. Noah looked at Elann and watched her pinch pieces of her food here and there and place them in her mouth where’d she chew for ages. He didn’t understand her way of eating. Was she not hungry like he was? She had agreed to come with him after all, so he had assumed that she shared the same hunger that he possessed, but apparently that wasn’t true. No one could eat that little and be full right?

Noah was proven wrong when Elann pushed her plates towards him. He was attempting to wipe the grease from his face when she did so, but stopped at the smell of her quail coming his way. Of course he wouldn’t pass up the chance to at least a portion of her meal. His stomach still had room in it and it would be so wasteful with how little Elann ate. “Are you sure?” he muttered while pulling the plate towards him further. He pushed his own out of the way to make room for Elann’s – now his – before digging in, not really heeding her answer if there was one.

He questioned her fullness. There was nearly an entire quail left on its bones and her roll had barely been picked at. What was this girl doing? “You really don’t eat a lot,” he said, taking a bite of the bread. As he chewed he eyed her and studied her mouth where nary a trail of grease and butter lay. Unlike his own, of course. After he swallowed he continued, “Were you really hungry or did you just want to come to the tavern with me?” He felt a small guilt in that. Was Elann wasting the little money she had just to keep him company? Would she continue to do that for the sake of spending time with him? Noah felt a small confliction but decided that if money ever became a problem for the girl, he’d lend his own without hesitation. It wasn’t as if he needed it to do much but pay his rent.

[Elann]

Elann was truly full. It wasn't that she couldn't eat her whole plate of food and even his if she really wanted to. She was just accustomed to not eating much and so it didn't bother her. To her, she had eaten plenty. Half of her ale was partaken of, all of one piece of her two pieces of bread, and a tiny bit of the quail. That was a hearty meal for her. With delight in her voice she nodded and said "Yes. Eat." though she doubted she could stop him from eating it if she tried. She gestured at the plate as if to usher him to hurry up and not think so much about it and her. He quickly downed her food as well with a voracious appetite and she decided to grab hold of her ale mug and watch him behind it.

Her fingers played gracefully over the handle of her mug as she began to think of things. His voice snatched her from her thoughts and she smiled kindly at him. With a hand, she reached up to her dress and pulled the shoulders that were slipping down into their proper place. Kindly, her voice came back and said "Not so much as some people. We Benshiras live in the desert. Food is not common", she nodded, affirming her position and opinion on the matter. He eyed her while he chewed, almost as if chewing directly at her and she had to fight a laugh from coming up as it looked somewhat humorous. The tall, lanky man was studying her and that was painfully obvious. His eyes had a quality about them that she felt meant that he could stare at a spot for hours without moving. She did love the changes of color in his eyes though in the light of the fire, flashing from one color to another. As he stared at her lips, her breath subconsciously quickened and he would notice that while she didn't eat much, the more he looked, a tiny sheen was there that was not there before. What little grease had been there had been absorbed and made her lips shinier, and while not greasy at all, they looked as though she was wearing something that a groomer would put on your lips.

She answered him with delight and a bit of playfulness. "I love taverns. I visit all of them." she was of course kidding, and having seen her in her normal Benshiran garb he would have had to know it was a joke. She had never even stepped foot into a tavern really her whole life. She gave it a bit of a pause and a serious look before letting out a snicker and said, "I was a little hungry and I wanted to spend some more time talking to you."

She didn't say so, but thought to herself, "I've been feeling a bit lonely lately. I wish someone knew how I felt with my family gone." she confessed to herself, though not sure if she should confess such a thing to a young man like Noah.

Continuing, she said to him, "But today was good, so I didn't want it to end yet. That's why I come." she said in her cute accent. Once he finished, she sat upright and looked to his glass of ale, almost to remind him to wash it all down and then took another drink herself from her's. Now that she was done and he seemed to be done with both of them, she asked, "Did you want to go?" She tilted her head slightly to the door, glancing at it and then back to him. Many people had a determination to stay in an establishment and drink and make merry, speaking to random people, but not her. She didn't know about such a social norm. She figured that Noah and she ate, now it was time to go.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Noah tried to remember exactly where the Benshira were from. Elann had said that they lived in a desert but couldn’t think of a desert territory in Mizahar. It was very possible that he just hadn’t been there or heard of it. His family must’ve never been there either because they had not educated him on such a thing. They only taught him about the things that directly related to their lives. These things were hunting, trading, family structure, basic human society, and the need for a bondmate.

He licked his lips after he finished what remained of Elann’s quail and found himself staring at her again. This stare was not in doubt of her answer to his question, but a stare to admire the young woman’s facial beauty. The thing about the Kelvic is that he could stare at things for a while, without finding that particular object of his sights boring or unentertaining. Thoughts always found ways to psych up his imagination and make fun out of inanimate objects. Even though Elann was far from inanimate or an object, he found himself thinking about her life before coming to Syliras. She didn’t share much about it so he was left to his imagination.

Noah imagined the garb that she wore in Syliras would prove impractical in the deserts. All he knew about the biome was that it was dry, arid, and full of sand. Why would someone even want to live there? he wondered, but then he thought on people wondering why he would choose to live in a forest and not a city like most. At least in the desert, Elann probably lived in a city of sorts, right? He shrugged the thoughts away when Elann spoke. He gave her his undivided attention as always.

“I was a little hungry and I wanted to spend some more time talking to you,” she said.

A smile graced the man’s face and he simply grunted in agreement not wanting to ruin such a statement with a clumsy one of his own. If Elann could only talk for hours without running out of things to say, the Kelvic would’ve been quite happy with that. He’d be content with listening to the woman and not saying a word, but apparently that wasn’t what she wanted and so he would make the effort to change that about himself. He half wanted to ask the girl to talk more, for his own selfish want, but realized soon after that that was something she wished he’d do.

As Noah watched her talk, he noticed to flash of a look she gave his nearly full mug of ale. He took the intended sign and pushed the plate away and grabbed his ale. With a clumsily guzzling he downed it. A belch that seemingly vibrated the man entirely escaped his mouth after Elann asked if he would like to leave. Instantly he brought both hands to cover his mouth and his face flushed with a redness. “Excuse me. I’m sorry. That was rude,” he spurted in quick succession.

Now he truly did want to leave the tavern just to escape the establishment and the embarrassing situation his own bodily functions placed himself in. He simply nodded now but was saddened by the thought of leaving for he knew that once they left the tavern and got home to the Row, they’d go their separate ways. It was something that Noah didn’t particularly want to do because not only would he be bored in his own home, he’d miss Elann’s voice to fill the quietness that would surely accompany him into his home.

“We can leave,” he finally said before pausing. "Can we talk more though? I like talking to you," he continued, hoping his somber tone didn't betray his feelings.

[Elann]

Now that moods were slightly more elevated and both of them were feeling less emotional having removed the tucked away feelings within them that were grinding against each others senses, they now were starting to get along better. He was clearly being more expressive, and while not saying much more than he was, it was more how he was saying it that mattered to her. She also now had the perception that the standards of a human should not be placed on him and he should not be held in such social regard as them either. She was dying to ask him the question of what type of Kelvic he was, but she put that out of her mind, more concentrated now on the person of Noah. He wanted to be more human than animal anyways, so her desire was to placate that desire and make him less angry with himself for his failures.

As he gave his reasons why he wanted to come and she wasn't surprised. He made it evidently clear that he was hungry all day, and while the second part of his comment wasn't clear until recently, it made her happy it was clear now. She could not have been more wrong. He almost seemed to even show an attraction to her she thought. Why else pursue her through the city and remain here at the table when she not just ten or twenty minutes ago told him off. She didn't want to give light to her own feelings on the subject and merely remained true to who he was, a friend and someone she was sort of social leeching off of right now. He was as close as anyone else was to her, but she found him a bit more intriguing than anyone else she had met thus far. Now that he was showing her affection by choosing to not only stay, but that he enjoyed her company and thought she was small and cute, she felt at peace. As he burped she could see him about to do it and it even got the cheers of some of the more rowdy people in the tavern in response. She felt embarrassed and while it wasn't so shocking, it was just kind of out of nowhere for her.

She was used to men being men. They didn't have social barriers like that where she came from. A man would strip down and go to the bathroom right in front of her. There was nothing more to it than that. After a meal, men burped, amongst other things. Her preconceived notions that this city and its Denizens were of a higher social calling than her own people though were just a bit shattered when his burp erupted with vibration in the room. It made her cheeks glow red with embarrassment she slapped the table at him as he apologized. She laughed and shook her head and hid behind her hand. Her hair slowly fell from behind her ears and hid her face as she tilted her head down into her hand.

After a brief pause, she looked up again with a smile and said, "This was not so loud. My father does this too. Shakes the rugs off the walls." she made a bleh face showing her mild dislike for it but didn't harass him on it. She was clearly being playful. He obviously felt embarrassed himself and some people did find it rather distasteful but she didn't mind. "We can talk some more at my home?" she was curious if he would want to go back to her place. After all, her furniture was not entirely sanded and polished up yet, and with exception of the chair she bought and the items that were already in the home, they were in poor quality and looked it. If he accepted she would gladly stand and leave with him. If he wanted to stay she was alright with that too, she supposed, but the thought was alien to her to stay in here when their food was finished.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Noah’s embarrassment only furthered at the whooping and hollering of the men around them. He did feel proud of himself, able to get a reaction like that out of people that weren’t giving him second glance moments earlier. He didn’t let that pride show when his eyes fell Elann shaking with laughter as she hid her face. The girl had hit at the table soon after the belch escaped his body, but it was all in jest.

As the tavern quieted down, he caught the end of Elann’s words. She had invited the Kelvic to her home and he jumped at that chance. He nodded a quick nod and pushed the food away from him. He had only been in her home once before and wasn’t allowed to stay long. He hoped that this was his chance to actually learn about Elann further. He fetched his bag from the floor with a quickness and produced a smile.

He flashed Elann an eager look seemed to be buzzing with life. He was fed and happy to have been invited back to his hopeful friend’s home. With a quickness he threw his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door, ready to lead Elann through the busy streets of Syliras and back to their apartment complex at the Traveler’s Row.

[Elann]

Upon leaving the Rearing Stallion, Elann had hoped to maybe talk to Noah on the way back to her place, but the streets were even more busy now that people were shuffling back to work after eating. It likely would have died down after an hour or so had passed, but as they went, it was hard to hear over people shouting for passerby's to buy their wares. The small vendors on the street were not too common as most preferred the Bazaar, but some she figured didn't go there because of competition.

As they moved up to the stone building that was their home, she took in a breath of relief. She was a fast walker, but was also in a peach cotton dress. She felt awkward moving so fast so it was likely Noah before her. Noah held open the door for her and as per her unusual awkward lacking of understanding she stood there a brief moment for him to enter and then realized he was hold it open for her. She didn't understand that and it took some getting used to.

As they entered she once again did not see their aging landlord. She had not seen her much lately and wondered how she fared. While she looked youthful, there was something of age to her. She spoke like an older woman and walked with a cane. All of this was very strange to Elann's senses. Waiting for Noah to close the door, she moved up the stairs when he was ready. She stuck to the right and stepped up each step individually as she was in little to no hurry.

Once reaching the top and heading for her door, she said to Noah, "It sure is nice to get off of the streets. Nice to be here." With her weaver's fingers, she searched in her little pouch for her key, finding it much easier now that most of the money she left with was gone. She in a way showed off how she had learned to unlock the door over the past few days of going in and going out since Noah had seen her fumbling with it. With a vague gesture into the room, holding open the door, she invited Noah inside.

Once inside there was a click as she shut the door, pushing it closed with her backside. The doors were pretty hefty, and for someone who was of smaller frame and never really messed with doors, she generally either used her shoulder to get the latch to catch and keep the door shut, or bumped it with her butt. "Have a seat anywhere you'd like. I will make us some coffee, okay?" she didn't know if he as a person or a kelvic even drank it. She felt that it was a chance as he did gobble down all the food. Was he a goat kelvic? The question still tormented her.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts

[Noah Amuel]

Similar to their trek from the Welcome Home to the Rearing Stallion, Noah led the way. Occasionally he’d glance at the sky, hoping to find his way back home without the need of the street signs. That proved difficult. Many times he had to pause and reassess his position within the castle city. He would listen in on people’s conversations as they passed by them in a tight manner, hoping that they would declare where they were coming from and where they were headed and he would adjust his direction as such. It was Elann who had impeded the man’s progress a bit but she also helped him out with her peach dress standing out amidst the crowd of grey, brown, and black. She was a like a beacon for Noah. All he had to do was turn around, scan for her dress, and feel comfort in knowing that she wasn’t lost when he found it.

Finally the front door of the Traveler’s Row reared its head enough for Noah to see and onward he trudged with a chivalrous objective. As his mother taught him, he got to the door first and opened it for his female companion. Albeit he got there a little ways before her so he was stuck holding the door longer and awkwardly so. When Elann did come upon him and the open door she stood there perplexed by his actions. Noah was perplexed as well and shot her a quizzical glance. It wasn’t until he motioned for her to enter first did she really take the hint -- a small shock of realization causing her to open her eyes wide and flash Noah one of her small smiles.

Once he entered behind her and his delicate eyes adjust to the dimness of the room, he searched for Matilda and couldn’t find a trace of her person. The only evidence Elann and he had to her existence was the constant stream of sugary treats that always were on the tea table. He wondered if Elann had noticed her absence lately as well. He glanced to his shorter friend and observed her look about the room briefly, probably search for Matilda much the same way Noah was.

As Elann moved towards the stairs, Noah moved towards the tea table to sample the latest treats. They were sugar cookies, plain besides the sweetness that they held. Still he grabbed a couple and followed Elann up the steps, patiently waiting for her to lead the way with her slow stepping. The Kelvic usually took the stairs two at a time, his long legs allowing for such a maneuver, but he could understand why Elann did not do it.

“It sure is nice to get off the streets. Nice to be here,” she said when she reached the top of the stairs.

At first Noah agreed with a grunt but quickly jutted in a “Yes it is,” as to not face the wrath of an annoyed Elann again. As they walked towards Elann’s room Noah reviewed the candle holders on the walls. The one he had noticed to need a new candle had been replaced entirely and the holder cleaned of wax. Matilda was definitely here, but probably in her room. When his sights fell back upon Elann she had fashioned her room key from her bag and swiftly undid the lock and latch of the door with relative ease compared to how she struggled days before. There was a small pride attached to the motion on her part and Noah couldn’t help but show asmile when she invited him inside.

He brushed past her and stepped into her home. When he got to the middle of the sitting room, he glanced about and sought to find any changes to the scenery since he last was at her home. His glancing about was interrupted by the quiet yet noticeable thud of the door shutting. He turned on his heel to Elann just as she offered him a seat anywhere that he liked. Then she stated that she was going to make coffee.

If she was going to make coffee, then maybe she had intended to let Noah stay for a little bit? Even at the thought of that, Noah grew excited but fought to hold it from becoming known. Noah found himself radiating towards the window of her room, placing himself in the chair that sat in front of it. To his right was a plant, one that he touched gingerly. In fact, he behaved in a very delicate manner, not wanting to disturb any of Elann’s belongings. In time, it would probably become apparent that he was walking very softly, on his tip toes in some instances even.

“What kind of plant is this?” he asked Elann, facing wherever she was in the room now. “I’m not very good with plants. They are pretty but... weird.” He returned to look at the plant and then back of Elann. In the time before she would answer, he shrugged off his backpack and set it to the left of the chair. He then fidgeted some, not knowing exactly what to do with his body, let alone his hands. He put his nimble fingers into his lap and locked them together. He sat straight, legs formally put in front of him. Noah was attempting to behave in what he thought was a civil manner.

[Elann]

Many times in their journey back home Noah almost seemed lost. His stopping and listening made her nervous because while she had a good memory of where they were, she doubted when he did. Whenever he would look back to her she would beam him a little smile as if to say “Still here”. Eventually they made it there and made it inside, awkwardness aside.

She had to admit, she longed forward to see him take the cookies from the tray. It was almost a victory in her mind at knowing the mentality of Noah a bit better. When he did so upon approach to her she shook her head slightly to herself and gave him a coy smile as if to say “I knew it”. She made it up the stairs with him and made it inside the room.

As she took the water basin from the edge of the hearth, her hand twisted to the side, pouring water into a nearby kettle. It was premature and due to her lack of making coffee as often as her mother did for her father. Her fire was dead and gone, wasted away from the night before and as she put her hand over the ashes, there was no heat.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Noah plop down into her nice sitting chair. Noah would find that unlike the couches that came with the place, this chair was oh so comfortable. It was very nice fabric and of sturdy make. There was no wobble or creak in it as he wriggled to get comfortable, and especially to a thin man, the cushion underneath would feel good against his bones. He pet her plant much like she did at times and asked her about it.

“It is a meshenel plant. I do not know what you call it here but I think it is mehendi? We have them back home...often near oases or rivers. It will get bigger too...If I don’t kill it. They like to grow in heat, but can thrive even in places like this.” She nodded. It was part of her culture so she understood what it meant to her and their people. It was often used in celebrations and various festivals. Though something likely taken from their roots as a people, it carried over into their own culture. Elann didn’t know for sure, just that they used it.

“We use it for many things.” she said as she began to get a fire lit. This she had some experience doing, having done it every day for the last few weeks and before from her childhood. She was no expert at it, that was for sure, but with a little hard work she could get a good blaze going. “We use it as a shampoo, for blocking sun on hot days, to cool us down, “ she paused a moment to think, “To dye our hair...mmm...and for art on our skin.” she nodded thinking that was about it.

She glanced again at Noah as he fidgeted and she wondered if he was comfortable. He at the very least looked proper. It made her grin. Once the fire got going a light bit of smoke entered the room and she reached to open the hatch that led outside. Feeding the flame with air it rose and rose until she was able to put some wood on the blaze.

“There” she said proudly as she stood up.

Other's Words ~~ My Words ~~ My Thoughts