Home of the Eypharian Woman [Closed]

[Nealle]

"Are the women in the whorehouse good performers?" The question was not particularly targeted to Aren, though because of her recent question may seem so. Her face was serious for a moment, but failed to keep composure as a faint smile forced its way onto her lips. "I've never been inside a whorehouse before. Mother would never permit it. I've asked her many times what it was like. I asked my whole family actually. Mother would scold me for asking. Father would pretend he never saw one. My brother was the truly innocent one. He visited once and found true love there. He found the woman of his dreams, not a Eypharian by the way, mother was truly disgusted, and he rescued her from that lifestyle. She's a sweet girl though, makes me wonder is all women in whorehouses are like that." She was serious again as she spoke, she almost seemed genuinely curious about the whores, obviously not for any sexual reason, but more of a personal thing. Nealle sighed. "Honestly, I do not care where we go. We can go and eat or we can walk in the sun. I've been feeling quite pale recently. Surely you have a suggestion Sir Wystern?" Nealle turned her head so that her ear was facing Wystern. "Are you interesting, Aren?" Nealle lightly clenched his hand again. "I met a Squire a few days ago, You might know Geoffrey, Sir Wystern, but he insisted that it should have been up to me to decide if he was interesting or not. I couldn't say honestly, I didn't know him." Nealle had appeared to make a wonderful comeback as she began chatting away once again. It was almost like she had some sort of mental complication.

[Aren]

"Am I interesting?" Aren couldn't help but laugh. That was a good question. "I suppose some people might consider me to be, while others wouldn't." Of all the things he was expecting to be asked, that certainly wasn't one of them, and so he didn't really know what to answer. The corridors of the castle were starting to get stifling, and Aren could have sworn that the ceiling seemed to get closer to his head every time he looked at it. "I say we get out of here, lest our minds wander any further than they already have." Even while he spoke, he eyed the stone blocks above him closely, attempting to discern whether they were moving or not. "Preferably somewhere with food." Whether it was the Rearing Stallion, the marketplace, or just a whorehouse, it didn't matter to him. "I'm starving, and since I'm not paying, I'm starving more than usual." Assuming, of course, that Syliran whorehouses sold something to eat that was actually edible.

[Wystern]

Truth to be told, the world outside Syliras is normally a very bad place, and many widowed wives with kids come over to this city. It was a pity that many chose to whore themselves out because of the better pay than another job. "You reap what you sow, Wystern," His master once told him. "How true that is," Wys laughed to himself.

"Are you interesting, Aren?"

Wystern smirked at that question and how she called him Sir again. This girl was into mind games, it seems like Wys and she share a hobby. Now, speaking of squires, Wystern have been deserting his duty to train the squires. He didn't particularly enjoy it, most of the current squires are too...pampered. Maybe he was just jealous of their upcoming, or not. Wystern liked what he had become may it be ugly or beautiful on the inside, that's up for someone else to judge.

"Aren, if you wouldn't mind, I will rephrase that for you. Nealle, I can assume you find him interesting simply because you asked that question. If you can't decide, so you ask simply because you want to know. A person who says yes, will sound conceited. A person who says no, would sound too humble, making them uninteresting. A person who says yes and no at the same time will simply stay in that gray area. However, if that person has someone, like me for example, backing up the idea that the he or she is indeed interesting, then he or she is interesting indeed." Wys decided to let the mind games continue, it seemed to brighten the mood. He had the advantage of being honest in this case.

[Nealle]

WysternGrats on 100 posts!

Nealle smiled at Aren's answer. It wasn't anything close to what she wanted to hear, and even farther from something she wanted to accept. She pondered a moment, almost seeming to contemplate the answer, then shook her head left to right. "I was hoping for your own opinion Aren." She stopped talking as she lifted a second hand to Aren's arm, feeling the muscles of his forearm gently. Either he had tensed up, or she simply was that unfamiliar with the body of an Akalak. "You feel uncomfortable? You don't have to answer the questions. I can ask Wystern instead." Nealle guessed that Aren wasn't exactly feeling well, though the reasoning was quite far apart. "Personally Wystern, I do not enjoy the word conceited, and had no intention of leading Aren to being such a thing (which hinted at her thinking he was interesting?), perhaps bold or even courageous, but not conceited. Humble, that was about as correct as you could be though. I'm beginning to wonder if you can read my mind Sir Wystern." Nealle smiled as she shrugged her shoulders, she turned her head to face Wystern. "Do you think I am happy?"

[Tyuru]

Through all of this, Tyuru had stood silent, seething in her own dark cloud. Fust. This always seemed to happen to her. Even in her childish, moody aura she had to admit it would be very immature to bring everybody else down with her. She was sure she’d left childhood behind long ago.

She forced herself to lighten up, taking a deep breath and letting it out without sighing, not willing to make herself seem like a reprimanded toddler.

“Do you think I am happy?”

Tyuru had to bite the insides of her cheeks to stop a reply that sprung to her tongue faster than a Zith on prey. (Zith were one of the other races she had heard many stories of but had yet to see in person. From what she’d heard, that was a good thing.)

You don’t seem happy. Underneath your happiness is something like shame. She moved her hand from her forehead to her mouth inconspicuously, trying to contain the thoughts threatening to spill from her. Even to one so unobservant as Tyuru, it was obvious now that she replayed the past twenty minutes or so in her head.

On top of that, her natural claustrophobia was setting in, and the pressing feeling of being caged was stifling her reason. Instead of allowing her mouth to run away with her, she said through her hands, “I agree with Aren. Let’s get out of here. I could use some extremely fresh air.”

((OOC: Just a note – those nifty links won’t open on my computer. They always end up directing me to a ‘cannot be displayed’ page, no matter what I do, so I haven’t read any of the OOC notes that were put in link form. Sorry. Also, I apologize for my absence. The holiday has melted my brains, which I hope explains the really useless post seen above ^^^.))

[Aren]

"So, am I interesting or not...?" After hearing Crow's incredibly convoluted rephrase of his own words, Aren still wasn't too sure of the answer. Nealle, meanwhile, continued to ask these difficult questions. Thankfully, that last one wasn't directed at him. But, even though he didn't have to answer, Aren couldn't help but think about it just the same. "Happiness..." The Akalak mumbled, in his native language of Tukant. He had always been told that happiness, true happiness, was nothing but a myth that only existed in silly stories. The reason for this was because if one didn't have it, then obviously they weren't happy, but if one did have it, then they would constantly be worrying about it being taken away. In the end, the only thing that can't be taken away is the peace of the long sleep. And even then... What he had been taught aside, Aren figured very few people even thought they were happy, and even fewer actually were, even for a moment. For his own part, he certainly wouldn't consider himself amongst either. "I agree with the Little Miss' agreement with... well, myself. Let's get outta here"

[Wystern]

NealleThanks!

"So, am I interesting or not...?"

"That was a yes, you are. Happy?" Wys said playfully with a smirk.

Wystern stood up straight and looked right into Nealle's blind eyes, as if trying to read her face. That question was a little different from the other one, it could be answered by a simple yes or no, but one of those words alone wouldn't suffice...or would it? There was only one correct answer and a thousand wrong ones. It sounded like his opinion was questioned, but from her reaction and his words from before, it was his judgment that was at question. A smile crept over his face as he began to grasp the answer; this Eypharian was getting more and more interesting.

"Do I think you are happy? Yes and no. You are barely content in Syliras. You can't find anyone who can understand beauty the way you do. You consider yourself ugly because of that scar, which hardly makes any sense to me-scars tell tales, this one tells us that you are stronger than what you seem. You think you are keeping your brother away from the family, that makes you upset. Normally, you are about as gloomy as a person can get. You play mind games with people, asking if they are interesting in order to find that one worthy person, the guide you mentioned. It annoys you to no end that no one seems to get those questions, or their purpose correct." Crow said, he rubbed his eyes and continued.

"However, today is different. You found a person who is beautiful, and has some comprehension about beauty," Wys threw a quick glance to Tyuru,"you found a person who can perhaps speak your native tongue,"He threw a glance at Aren," and you maybe have a found a person who can get at least one of your questions right. I would say there is more 'no' to that answer than 'yes', but you are happy enough to keep living, for a life without a shred of happiness is not worth living. All in all, the only reason you are asking those questions is because you want to find someone who can think like you, or at least, have the right qualifications to be your guide. Which is why, I have to assume, you talked to Aren first, and he had the several prime qualifications. Akalak, he will outlive you, strong enough to support you, and knows your native tongue; what's not to like? The answer. The answer he gave was not what you wanted to hear."

[Nealle]

[[OOC: Don't worry Tyuru, I was just congratulating Wystern on 100 posts.]] Shock. Utter and complete shock. Nealle felt a little dizzy the very moment Wystern began speaking again, and if it wasn't for bracing herself against Aren, she very well would have fallen to the ground. Wystern was a man that was wise beyond his own age. That's what is began to seem like to Nealle now. So much of what he said was accurate, no, perfect bull's eye. She wanted to deny that she wanted somebody to guide her, but simply because of the situation at that very moment, doing so would be foolish and childish. It was true, and as conceited or selfish as it may have been, she wasn't ashamed of that. Some points were off, but even the most distant from the truth were valid. What could Nealle say? She felt herself wanting to bawl again, though she wasn't even sure why, and even had the ability to reject the feeling this time. She could lie and say he was wrong, but she wasn't that smooth, her cover-ups would be painfully obvious, ridiculous at best, and far from convincing even herself. She could admit it, but it wouldn't do much for anybody else. She was silent long enough already to create suspicion, trying to gather her words into deceit. She could stay silent, they thought what they thought, she wasn't able to change that now. A faint grin spread across her lips, long after Wystern spoke. "You forgot one thing." Nealle face Wystern, and almost gave a look that said 'You're not THAT good'. "I don't mind that I was found standing in public half unclothed." She smiled briefly then sighed. This emotional horse-ride was exhausting for her. She was probably exhausting them as well. So, she decided, she'd stop. It was true that Aren was amazing in her blind eyes, and even though she wasn't sure about the lifespan of an Akalak, or that he even was one instead of an abnormally large Human, but she didn't dislike his answer. She just wanted an answer. There was something about Aren that scared her too. That brief moment of sorrow or regret when he mentioned not being in control of himself. She was curious, but felt that it was about as deadly to prod at as the scar on her face, to her at least. Another time perhaps. Wystern was right though. Nealle had never, and she was beyond certain of that fact, never met somebody able to read her so well, so easily, and had the ability to completely silence her by telling her about herself. Perhaps you always look a little different in your own eyes. It took a few moments to recover and to stop leaning against Aren, and when she did she almost looked ashamed for doing it. Did he think she was using him? Would what Wystern said and herself not denying it do that? What about Wystern? Did he despise her for her 'questions'? Perhaps for not being able to speak or think at the same level as he? Maybe Tyuru too? She seemed to enjoy the presence of a six-armed woman well enough because of the scarcity, but did she like her other-wise? Did the answers matter? Nealle voice broke through a whisper, once again using her native tongue, not with intention to communicate with Aren only, but simply from habit. She was in thought again, lost, maybe even afraid or intimidated from speaking. "Yes..." Wystern mentioned she did not particularly seem content with Syliras, that was true in the sense that she was not content with cities because that's all they were. But if she wasn't here now, she never would have met Geoffrey the aspiring young 'Syliran-Knight-To-Be', The beautiful Tyuru with 'Child-bearing hips' and a very bold tongue and inquisitive nature. There was also Aren, who even she could tell had something dark about him he was hiding, yet was so very kind towards her, had no reason to be, but he was. And, last but certainly not least, Wystern. Nealle turned her head to face him again. He figured her out, and they hadn't even known each other an hour. In fact, she felt like she didn't know him at all, and he read her like an open book. Her life, personality, and past were violated by that man, she was exposed, everything she wanted to hide, to pretend wasn't real, stood right next to her now. She smiled. It was like admitting your flaws or faults, receiving the release of guilt and pressure, and without having to do it yourself. Who else but a Knight could do something like that?

[Aren]

"Guide?" Aren's head shifted quizzically. "A guide... oh, a guide! Because you're--- right!" Despite his stuttering and babbling, the Akalak was well aware of what Crow and Nealle were talking about. In his experience, however, just because you knew or discerned something didn't mean you had to go telling everybody about it like you just discovered sunlight. Sometimes, people just aught to keep shit to themselves. "Well, if you'll have me, I'd be glad to do it, until you found someone more suitable." Truthfully, Aren didn't understand Nealle's reasoning for not simply asking him outright, but she was Eypharian after all. His father never much understood his mother's reasoning for some of the things she did, either. He always said it was "an Eypharian thing". "But, I'll warn you right here and now: just because I'd be your guide, does not mean I'd be your crutch." Exactly what he meant by that might have been difficult to tell, but to Aren the word crutch had only one meaning, making his statement pretty self-explanatory. "By the way, I also didn't mind finding you half unclothed in public." The Akalak smiled widely, eager to break the tense atmosphere, but giving Crow a strange glance while he was at it. "If I get any hungrier, though, I'm going to start eating people, beginning with the most meaty one." Aren shifted his gaze to Tyuru with a mischievous look in his eyes, his smile transforming into an impish grin.

[Wystern]

Wystern chuckled at Aren's offering. The one thing he did indeed keep to himself is that the word "guide" didn't mean something like a tour guide, but life guide instead. Did Aren understand what she asked? Maybe, maybe not, that wasn't important. Crow guessed that because of his incorrect answers she would refuse the offer. "What if she asked me instead?" He mused to himself. He was only able to tell what he did because of professional experience. Still, he was a good guide when it came to work, but the girl would have a better chance of a dog leading her better than the Knight.

Nevertheless just about everything the girl said so far was a play on words. Wys was pleased that he got the response he expected.

"You forgot one thing. I don't mind that I was found standing in public half unclothed."

That statement was a testament to his answer's being correct. Technically speaking, he didn't mind her standing naked, it's just that for one damn time he was on duty, he did what he thought was right. And legal. Nudity is not allowed, which is how he got into this-now becoming funny-situation. He decided not to respond to that one. Wys would rather look like he missed some vital detail, then be a pompous ass and reveal something that seemed so contrary to someone's opinion.

Aren threw another look at Wys, and Wys returned the favor. "I swear, if we will keep throwing each other those looks, the cleaners will be scraping bits and pieces of us from the Syliran streets," Crow chuckled to himself. Wys looked at Tyuru after Aren made that comment.

"If anyone needs someone to rescue them from a blue, seven foot man-eating monster, call me. Would you like me to lead the way to the Stallion?"