You're a What? (Ndale)

[Warden Thrice]

She linked her arm with his, and they set off. The sun was warm today, the seagulls were screaming, and the rhythmic sound of the ocean was everpresent. Even his overgiving claustrophobia was easier to bear with a companion. It was, overall, a nice day. He turned his head at her question, and almost chuckled at the quirk of her head. It was very similar to his own habit. “Oh? I was being… ill. Too many people. Too loud. Needed a stop.” That was the simple way to say it. Eorar couldn’t deny that he had an urge to show her his own form, since she had shown him his, but he wary. The hustle and bustle of the streets began to thin, and the buildings gave way to the open shore. Perhaps a hundred or so yard away, a building squatted just on the brink of sea and stand, and a long pier branched off into the water. Even from this distance, there didn’t seem to be too many visitors; all the students were cramming for their final exams and the emptiness deterred many of the other patrons. Still, there were one or two loners and one or two couples gazing out into the sea, probably sighing at the romance, something that had puzzled Eorar to no end since his arrival. “What of you?” he asked. “Why were you being in the alley?”

[Ndale Soromund]

“Oh? I was being… ill. Too many people. Too loud. Needed a stop.” She nodded in understanding but at the same time she did not understand. People were a curiosity, something to be studied closely. How could there ever be too many? So she struggled with her response a bit, she had, as of the late, been attempting to ‘curb her rudeness’ as she been so kindly informed by a passing scholar. They were so moody. “You…do not like many people?” As the past the streets and reached more toward the shores and beach that seemed to encompass Zeltiva Ndale felt the urge to take off her shoes and push her toes into the sand. It was not the smoothest sand but she often enjoyed early morning walks in her peahen form, her rough toes kicking it up with much merriment. She debated for only a moment before deciding food could wait in favor of taking her boots off once more. “One moment.” Slipping her arm out of Eorar’s she bent down and began to pull off her shoes, her balance impeccable for the odd position she held. She found that even in her human form her more birdlike positions were comfortable, more so when staying in one position for long periods of time. Though it had made her legs fall asleep before. “What of you?” his question surprised her and she tilted her head back, craning her neck to catch his words over the lapping waves. It was strangely louder than the crowded market place at times. “Why were you being in the alley?” “I heard you voice. The language is…strange to me. I had to see what it was.” Finished with her boots she tucked them carefully under one arm while her other linked with Eorar’s once more, tugging him along with her as she continued their slow pace. She felt suddenly like the other humans who walked along the shore, arms linked, quiet conversation. But she still did not understand the dreamy look that stayed in their eyes, the way even though both herself and Eorar arms were linked it was…different than the other couples. Strange, it was like something was missing. Shrugging off her questions her attention wandered to the building at the end of the trail they walked on, no doubt where they would be going. But for now she was content to flex her toes in the sand, a happy smile blooming across her face as she began to once more pelt him with questions. “You are not from here? No? Your language is from…somewhere else?”Speaking in soloy common was hard, her tongue tangling the words but she needed the practice and his other language was not one she knew.

[Warden Thrice]

She stopped, and he looked at her quizzically. She bent, and he nodded in understanding as she took off her shoes, digging her toes into the sand. Smiling, Eorar sat himself on the ground tugged at his own shoes until they came free. He jammed his feet into the sand as well. It was damp and warm, and he wriggled his toes. After a moment or so he stood, shoes in one hand and the other out to his side, ready to be linked with Ndale’s. Their pace was sedated, taking time to enjoy the warmth and sunshine after such a long winter, and Eorar nodded as they continued the conversation. “Yes, not many people hearing it before. Surprises me sometimes, how little is known about my people.” He fell into thought. She had shown him her other form, it was true, but what about him? Was it a good idea to return the favor? It seemed that she deserved it, but he was slightly wary. Perhaps he should approach it from a different angle. “Telling me, Ndale, do you liking to swim?” They came to the bottom of a set of wooden stairs, and Eorar leaned forward cautiously and touched one of the steps. They were quite cold and quite slimy. Unlinking himself for a moment, he sat down once more, brushed his feet off thoroughly and put his shoes back on. He wasn’t too keen on subjecting his feet to such chill.

[Ndale Soromund]

His people? Then not only was his language different but he was not human! Her gaze wandered over his form, he was human. He couldn’t be Kelvic because there was always something that gave them away, a quirk, a feature but she could see none. She found herself inching closer to his face, as if inspecting for a mask or fault of some sort and still she came up with nothing. Leaning back she allowed him room to put back on his shoes, watching him with more interest than before, her eyes jerking rapidly to catch every movement he made, “Telling me, Ndale, do you liking to swim?” “Yes!” Well, it wasn’t untrue, she did love the water in a manner that bordered on obsessive at times but she could not necessarily swim, “But not good.” Leaving out the part about her nearly drowning and setting her shoes beside where Eorar sat Ndale took a seat in front of the man, curious as to what he would do next. Still she was not one for excessive silence, especially when there were curiosities involved, “We are going swimming?” It seemed warm enough but the water deceptive, she had learnt the hard way that unless the sun beat against the water for many bells it was nearly always cooler than it look, the damp sand beneath her toes was proof. But she enjoyed it all the same, the grainy texture felt so strange on her human feet, it almost tickled her.

[Warden Thrice]

It started as warmth under his sternum. Slowly it spread under his ribs, then congealed under his collar and bubbled up his throat. He chuckled, then chuckled again, and soon enough it turned into true laughter. He had never laughed as a human before. It felt strange. Yes, he was going to show her his form. “There is always to getting better,” he said. “After we eat, we to go swimming. Is that alright?” Though his laughter had drifted off, his face remained in a smile. He stood, waiting for Ndale to see if she wanted to put on her shoes, then offered her a hand up. “Honestly, I’ve never being to this place before,” he admitted as he started up the steps, keeping a careful hand on the wooden rail. The top of the boardwalk was significantly drier than the stairs, and for that he was grateful. Linking his arms with the kelvic’s once again, he scanned the side of the building until he identified the door. He eyed it nervously, then sighed and opened it for his companion, “Being after you.”

[Ndale Soromund]

At Eorar’s laughter Ndale started but she found it interesting, it was a little dry and humans did not laugh around her a lot, tending to be scowling or generally exasperated with her. Her attention wandered though as her stomach grumbled in loud manner, insistent upon making itself noticed. Her hunger had almost been forgotten in the prospect of swimming in the frigid water, so she nodded eagerly, wanting to fill her stomach and then continue on. Shoving her feet in her shoes she stood quickly and linked her arm through her escorts, practically bouncing as they walked up the steps. Still she made an acute effort to focus on what was being said, a small but happy frown appearing on her face as she digested his words. “Oh! I have not eating here either.” His opening the door reminded her of a word. It came to mind easily, she had heard women whisper to each other when they went on walks and she followed in her bird form. What was it again? And better yet, how did they pronounce it? Gently? Mentally? Gentalenly? As they entered they building she once more found herself focused on something else, her thoughts fleeing to make room for the more prominent ones. “Lots of people!” It came out happily and she found herself squeezing Eorar’s arm before tugging him a bit in one direction, her gaze jerking around the small eatery and her head following suit. She nearly bumped into the table and sent them careening in the floor but she was able to catch her balance, barely. Deciding it was as good a place as any to sit she promptly seated herself and waited for Eorar to do the same before she began questioning him again, “You…enjoy fish? Yes?”

[Warden Thrice]

He definitely had to agree with her. There were lots of people. Though the place wasn’t packed, it was definitely bustling. There were perhaps twenty, including the staff, and Eorar’s eye was soon caught by a waiter who gestured to an empty table in the corner. He managed to avoid colliding with anything, but Ndale didn’t seem to be so lucky. He tried to pull her back on balance after she nearly hit a table, which almost sent them both to the ground. Somehow, some way, they managed to retain their upright status and footing, and Eorar send a small thanks to whichever god had helped them. They plopped into their respective chairs before they caused anything truly disastrous, and the Charoda-turned-human allowed a small sigh of relief to escape. It took a second before he realized that she had asked him a question. “What? Oh, I…” he tried to find the right way to say it, “not often. It usually making me very sick.” He pointedly refrained from asking her if she liked fish, instead focusing on the large billboard at the back of the room that displayed everything that could currently be ordered. Fish, fish, fish, two fish, sauced fish, fried fish, baked fish, baked octopus, fish, fish… wait, there. Salad. It was a bit expensive, but he wasn’t going to complain as it was the only thing he could see that had not once been an animal. He waved at a waiter, who finished whatever he had been doing and came over. “Hello,” he said cheerfully. “What will you be having?”

[Ndale Soromund]

“It usually making me very sick.” Ndale did not bother to stop her laughter, it was Zeltiva! How could one not eat fish? It was everywhere and usually the only thing available to eat unless you were rich but even then it was a rarity. “Then you do not eat a lot?” it was both a question and a statement, “You are a…vegetable?” She wasn’t sure if that was the right word but she quickly followed his gaze and turned her own eyes to the menu. It was much too far away, though she could pinpoint the two separate grays they blended too much for easy reading. Still she attempted, struggling for a few moments before shrugging slightly, she could not read it from here even if it was large writing. “Hello,” she stared at the waiter a bit startled, she hadn’t been paying complete attention “What will you be having?” “I cannot read the sign.” It was a flat statement, not embarrassed but a little annoyed, her face scrunching in mild displeasure. “Ah! Well miss, we have fish of any kind and any way you’d like and salads.” She was tempted to ask for rodent but last time all she gotten was a mild look of disgust before being promptly ignored, rolling her gaze to Eorar she smiled slightly, “What he eats.” Shifting she moved to make herself more comfortable, her feet lifting from the floor and tucking under her and shifting her body forward to rest it’s weight on the table as she once again began simple scrutiny of her companion. The waiter stared at the girl for a moment before shrugging, “And you then, sir?”

[Warden Thrice]

Eorar watched Ndale quizzically as she laughed. It wasn’t a hurtful laugh, it was as if she thought something was genuinely funny. He tilted his head at her, but the waiter’s approach cut off any questioning. So, she couldn’t read? That was interesting. He smiled gently, almost apologetically when she referred the waiter to him. Judging by her views on fish, she probably wouldn’t like what he was having. Still, he didn’t know her particularly well, and that might not be the case. “Hmm… number seven?” he said, not sure how to pronounce the actual name. The waiter nodded, half-bowed and whisked off into the throng of people. Eorar turned his attention back to Ndale. “So, what do you calling your race? No, your species… what kind of bird are you?” Having lived a life almost exclusively underwater, he knew very little about birds except that they flew and had feathers, and the white crature that had stood before him in the alley looked quite different from the seagulls that constantly wheeled and screeched above the city. She was also different from the cawing crows that scrabbled over scraps among the buildings and streets, where even the gulls dared not venture. She was not like the chickens he had seen for sale at the marketplace, either, though there had been certain similarities. Then, without becoming aware of what he was doing until he had already done it, he gently touched her hand. “Since you have showing me what you are, I shall returning the favor. After eating, we shall going to the docks and I will showing you my real skin.” He leaned back and gestured to himself. “Not this.”

[Ndale Soromund]

“So, what do you calling your race? No, your species… what kind of bird are you.” She wondered briefly what a ‘number seven’ was. A number, clearly but it was also food? She shook her head slightly, this language was so complicated. But there was another matter to attend to, “A peahen. We are not like small birds, we do not fly...much. Is more for small times.” As Ndale spoke she grew a bit more animated, flapping her arms much like a bird to accompany the words description. And nearly falling off her chair for her attempts. “Males have long tails. Pretty. Very pretty. Prettier than females. It is how we mate.” It was just after she finished speaking that his hands touched hers, her eyes swinging down to on their hands. A gesture of kindness? It couldn’t be comfort since Eorar did seem very sad, in fact it was quite the contrary her partner seemed very relaxed. “…and I will showing you my real skin. Not this.” “Magic!” The word was blurted out before she could stop it but it drew no stares, many students currently eating here were from the university and it was obvious they were studying while eating. Not that she noticed, no, she was much too happy with the fact that her companion was not what he appeared. Was he Kelvic? Impossible. She tossed the idea as quickly as it came, he obviously would no more if he was a Kelvic. But then what? She did not know many species, only words from text but they had no pictures to accompany them. The food reaching its destination interrupted her mental question and answer as her eyes settles on the food. “Leaves?” Oh, she did not mind them, she ate nearly everything that came in sight. But it was strange because humans did not usually eat such things, they seemed to enjoy more solid and meaty foods. Then again the last time she offered someone lizard they had looked at her like she was an idiot. Poking at the food she shrugged and began to eat, forgoing the utensils and picking it up piece by piece with her hand and going back to her conversation with Eorar. “Why do you hide?”