Can it get any more awkward? (Ximal)

[Aleksi]

She smiled, shrugging and just moving her fingers over the mane of her Strider. Her eyes never left his face. But it didn't seem that she wanted to go for round two. Instead, she looked more friendly than before. Looking over her shoulder at the road, she added quietly Let's have it this way.. I buy you a drink to say sorry for that, we sit down and talk... and well, I'll be around here for a while, so whenever we meet, we can have round two, deal? It wasn't easy for her to say that. Offering a man a drink... but that was the least she could do.. she just literally brought him down to his knees with a very low blow. That was not the way of Drykas Her fingers snapped once, signalling the cat to come closer so she could pet it lightly. While waiting for his reply, she tried to calm the animals down and lte them know that she was ok. After all, they had no idea why she growled, for them... it was danger like any other

[Ximal]

XI shook his head clearing it of the reminiscent pain. Then he caught sight of a smile on her lips. as she stroked the mane of her horse. Xi'd lost, and he'd lost to the most humiliating of ways. Xi swallowed his pride and accepted that. Though for some reason he could pick up a glance of a more friendly tone. His quiet pain filled rage slowly ebbing away. As she offered to buy a drink. Xi couldn't help but chuckle a little. Sit down and talk as well as if they met again the'd have their second round. Xi just smiled lightly, his shoulders a little slumped. Nah it's alright, i lost and i accept that. and don't worry about the drink. Sides the ale is weak as water here anyway. Though i wouldn't mind that talk. And the round two stuff was just bravado. It's aright." Xi smiled lightly as she snapped her fingers and the cat plodded over to her. Well what ever she was doing to clam the animals of hers down was working. Xi just took a deep breath and cracked his neck again. "Those animal's really do behave around you...and they can sense when your angry at the very least. So i'll apologize again for what happened. It seems these-" Xi made a glance down at his hands and curled them into fist's slowly before unfurling them. "- always get me into a lot fo trouble..."

[Aleksi]

She giggled at his comment about ale. It was unusual to hear that, but it did remind her of why she found this man interesting. Shaking her head lightly, she added before he could even finish As much as I'd like to say you did lose.... you didn't, that was a low blow and I could never consider that a victory Her fingers moved up her shoulders and over her hair, undoing it and letting it fall back down. Reaching back, she pulled the cloak off of her Strider's back and wrapped it around herself. It didn't seem to bother her that the other part of her top was still in the bag. Smiling wide and proud, as she heard him speak of the animals, she added again They are my family Xi... Drykas people and their Striders are like one... which is why we understand each other so well and which is why they, follow my requests Yes, she used the word request. It was unusual, to say the least, since one would expect a human to command animals, but no, not Aleksi. She moved towards him, looking up into his eyes, still with the same smile she had on while talking about the animals And where could we have a talk, that wouldn't get you in trouble?, giggling quietlly and looking to the side, she clearly was teasing him about the last comment related to his hands.

[Ximal]

Xi rolled his shoulders lightly at he comment about him not losing, because it was a low blow. Xi sighed lightly responding to her comment about not considering it a victory. Xi 's voice was low and slightly defeated. "You may not consider it a victory, however i still consider it a loss. had this been a real life or death bout, i'd be dead.So i say you won on those terms ." A small honest smile appearing on his face. Though his eye's stayed a little locked onto her as she let her hair down. and wrapped the cloak around her shoulders. Coughing lightly he slid his own shirt back on and his steel vambraces. Slipping on his cloak he heard her speak about her animals. They were her family. She was one with her horse ? Xi couldn't quite comprehend but he did understand the comment about requests, if they were her family then they would listen to her, Xi had to concede that. A smile appearing on his face as he looped his cloak around his shoulders and fastened it. And then she walked towards him, the same smile still on her face, from her speech about the animals she had with her. asking in a rather wry tone where they could have that talk. Xi's face much have turned a few shades stronger than crimson at that point. Now his mind was drawing a little blank at the giggle. "Well i have a room at the hostel...That's the travellers lodge place...Where all the new people go...I...could lead you there...?" Xi trying his best to keep something he thought he'd tamed a long while ago under control.

[Aleksi]

She nodded at the comment about life or death situation. It was true. He needed to pay more attention to that, because, in all honesty, in that situation, everyone would use everything they can to keep themselves alive. Low blows, for most people, don't exist. She watched him get ready. For someone with so much skill in fighting, he seemed nearly clumsy. Giggling again, she just waited until all of it was done and he could speak again. When he did though, he did not seem like himself anymore.... It was almost as if he was.. shy? Aleksi did her best not to start laughing, so just a muttered giggle escaped her lips while listening to him speak. It was awfully rude and she didn't want to offend him, but she just couldn't help herself. After hearing the offer, she just nodded. There was no way this man could harm her in a way she should be worried about, after going to his bedroom. He was way too.. .well, the only word she could think about again was, shy, for that. Sure, why not?, she added cheerfully, all of a sudden. It seemed as if his more, timid side woke up the more relaxed one in Aleksi. She felt like she was again, leading this encounter exactly down the path she wanted it to go, Her fingers pulled the coat over her fully, since it got a bit cold and she turned to him again Lead the way then, Xi

[Ximal]

The trip to the hostel had been filled with little bits of minor conversation mostly about the city and Xi tried to fill her in as best as he could. Though as they drew up to the hostel Xi spoke lightly. "Sorry but your strider and your cat are going to have to stay out here...the owner doesn't let animals inside the hostel, but it's a fair price for the time here." Xi nodded at the owner before heading into the hostel and over to the stairs to wait for her. To both purchase a room and talk to her animals. then he'd lead her upstairs to his room, a single and simple room but with a small table and a chair as well as a bed. Xi gave her free option as to where she sat down then he'd follow in close the door and take the remaining seat. Xi took a deep breath the sly pink shade still in his face. So what was it you wanted to talk to me about...I mean i'm not all that interesting.

[Aleksi]

It was rather quiet on the way to the hostel. That would be the amount of conversation Aleksi would usually prefer, but that night, something was different. She seemed quite interested in both the culture of the city and the background of the man she was with. As they arrived and she was told the animals had to stay outside, she leaned in and lightly stroked both the Strider's mane and the cat's fur. It was a strange sight to see for most, she guessed, but she didn't really care. Her lips parted and she whispered in Pavi to both of them Take care of each other, and I will be fine... I will see you early in the morning before turning around and heading to the owner of the hostel to purchase a room. On her way up the stairs, she looked over her shoulder at Xi and smiled, adding Thank you for showing me around before making her way completely up and into the room. It was simple, as she had expected, but she liked it that way. Not much to distract people while they work. Her petite frame moved near the bed, where she finally undid her cloak again and put it down, folded. She then sat down on the very edge of the bed, facing one of the chairs and nodding towards it as if to ask if he will sit down. Her voice was calm, quiet, almost as if she was trying to relax even more Well, you seem more interesting than any of the people I've met on the trip to here, really. You certainly know how to fight, which, for me, is amuzing

[Ximal]

Xi smiled lightly as she thanked him for informing her about the town on their way to the hostel. He'd just thought it something he should do to pass the arduous walk and not do it in silence. Though up in his room Xi couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable especially when she took her cloak off. Xi did the same but hung his one across the back of the chair before sliding his vambraces off as well. He was in a secure environment, and he didn't need them on all the time. He couldn't help but feel a little tense, embarrassed even. Sucking down a deep breath he tried to steady himself. Though her statement about him being more interesting than the people she'd met on her trip was a little odd, but the knowing how to fight was a little excessive. "I'm not that good of a fighter...I have a little skill but not more than that. As i said i have a little strength." Xi smirked lightly bringing his hand up to massage his eye's gently having closed them and leant back in his chair. "So what brings you to nyka ? It's not exactly a major trade rout so there's gotta be some reason?" Xi smiled lightly his eye's still closed and a little oblivious to the things around him at the moment With his eye's closed he could focus a little and let his mind ease from the tension, embarrassment and shyness.

[Aleksi]

Aleksi smiled again, as Xi's cheeks changed colors. It was quite funny. Her fingers moved over to her bag, reaching in and pulling two apples out. She wiped them off on her pants and with a somewhat of a chuckle after hearing him speak about his fighting skills, she offered the bigger one to Xi. Her eyes moved over the vambraces her took off, wanting to touch one but knowing how protective of her necklace she was, she wanted to ask first. Lips parted to do so, but she then heard him speak again. What was she doing here? She wasn't sure really... She was just... traveling? Should she mention Tebridiar? Maybe not... at least not by name. I think you are a good fighter Xi, as the matter of a fact, I know I'd have something to learn from you, she added quietly before taking a bite of her apple, enjoying in the taste. After she finished chewing, she decided it was time to answer his question Well, I left Endrykas in a search of a friend... a Kelvic friend that was taken outside of the walls of the city, by slavers... it was obvious Aleksi's memories of that were painful. She didn't even bother hiding her eyes tear up every time she talked about Tebridiar. That young Kelvic, after all, was the only person that truly knew her. Shrugging lightly, rolling her shoulders back to relax here tensed muscles, she leaned in towards Xi. Her lips curled into a smile, somewhat of a cheekyone And then I got tossed back onto the ground by a giant I ran into, that seems to have a pink shade on his cheeks most of the time. It was clear that she could see his behavior and that she was teasing him about it. With a giggle like the ones from before, she leaned back on the bed and waited for him to reply.

[Ximal]

Xi had sat in his chair and started to lean back when she tossed the apple the caught it and popped it on the desk before smiling and saying thanks thought he caught her eyeing on of the vambraces he'd just taken off. Burt he couldn't quite work out why. So XI shrugged lightly not like there was anywhere she could stuff it and walk out with it so he tossed one of them onto the bed next to her. Xi now had his eye's closed and heard her speaking, mentioning that she might have something to learn from him. "Well, if that's the case I'd be happy to teach anything you think i have over you." A few moments of silence passed with the crunch of an apple before she spoke again giving her reasoning for leaving endrykas. Xi felt his free hand tighten into white knuckled fury at the mention of the last word. Xi's voice came out calm and little sad though. "Well, it's good that that kelvic has a friend like you." Gods know I wish I had someone that gave to shykes about me, when that happened. Xi let his hand drop from his eye's and opened them slowly to be greeted by a rather wry smile upon he features and a not too unwelcome view that made his face light up again. Though her words seemed to hit a certain set of note. She was right but he'd apologize for that. "I'm still sorry for that...And the pink shades...Well that should only be natural with a beautiful woman near by...." Xi lifted his hand back to his eye's again trying to resettle himself but that was not going well, nothing ever went well for him besides fighting, and even then that screwed up most of the time.