Closed [Nettle District] - Within Eyes Hidden (Riken Avadur)

[Altaira Readva]

Bird Speak | Common | Vani | Others

She took the cloak as it was given to her, and put it on without a remark, the dawning thought that she'd have to deal with the whiplash of the previous situation sinking into her mind - and much of the amusement she'd thus derived from the chase falling quickly, and her esteem for Syliras dropped another several notches. She figured that she'd have to be more careful, at least for the following few days, bearing in mind that she wasn't quite so defenseless. She half seriously considered flying to work a viable option, though the thought of having to try and get herself into the workroom either nude or feathered.

When it came back to her attempts at playful jabs, she mustered enough for a solemn condolence. "Don't worry, Riken. I'm sure you'll meet one some day. Unless you're the kind that dates strictly human, that'll lower your chances even further- But there's still hope." She gave herself a satisfied smirk, reviving an old card that she'd used on her elder brother from time to time.

Soon the small alleyway was bathed in light, and a street of reasonable business was before them. To her dismay, the choice of where to go was deferred onto her, and flood of panic hit her for a moment. After she let it in, she curtly cut it off. Her kind was simple minded enough as it was, she didn't need feelings such as excessive worry to hinder decision making. She sighed and the street a hard look. They were still within in the Nettle District, weren't they? "Right." She said, tone hinting at her own displeasure. "Keep away where ever they'd expect you go, I suppose- a meal would be lovely, though." With than she pulled the cloak closer, and took several steps left. "Either way, it'd probably be best not to dwell too long in the narrow, dark alleyway."

She nodded off in the direction of her choosing, before her impatience wore through her, and she opted to take Riken by the upper arm as she established a walking pace that she liked. "Oh, and talking might help too, I suppose. Otherwise I'd imagine we look like rather the grave, brooding pair." She wasn't sure if he was inclined to such a thing - humble conversation - and took it upon herself to establish it. "Perhaps looking like foreigners would serve us well?- It'd be an excuse to give the place a thorough look over at least." She gave a short paused, frown forming. "-Are you new in these walls?"

[Riken Avadur]

Riken chuckled at Altaira's response, and the peculiarity of her wording. Now that she had brought up the subject of race, the man's curiosity once again took the reins. Her tanned skin was definitely interesting, but not too uncommon as to have brought up the question initially. But as a man of knowledge, it was his duty to know everything he could, and it was becoming quite apparent that this new companion of his was quite interesting. "I did not mean it in such a depressing manner, but your assurance is kind all the same. I make no judgement based on a person's race; only by how interesting I find them." Riken flashed a gentle smirk to his companion as he finished his words with the inevitable question, "And while I may be but a common Man, I'm curious, what manner of angel are you?" The answer would only stoke his interest further, As the pair began to take their casual stroll down the avenue, Riken listened to her external thoughts, and silently approved of her reasonings. As she spoke he simply smiled, enjoying the opportunity to observe her in more detail. There is an aspect of information that many people forget about when thinking of the typical spies and agents; that of an individual's thoughts. How one approaches a problem can often be as valuable a piece of information as any other, and it was a habit of Riken's to know this concept with most of his acquaintances. As a contingency, of course. Nevertheless, he found himself remarkably at ease with this strange woman, and welcomed her as they linked arms. At her suggestion of a brooding pair, Riken chuckled internally. He had spent his life managing how others saw him, and becoming whoever was needed for the job at hand. And yet he would let her continue, and offer her advice about how to proceed. "Brooding simply won't do. How about a brother and sister out on the town, or a love-struck couple, needing nothing but each other? It's so cliche' I doubt anyone would question it." Riken squeezed her arm playfully for a moment, chuckling at his own joke. One way to pass the time, after all. Altaira's next question however, required a bit of thought. Riken did not consider himself a foreigner to this city; he could find his way surface-side in the dark, if needed. But once again the real question was what the best answer is, and not the most truthful. Ultimately, the agent decided there was little reason to lie about such things at this point in time, and offered his honesty. "Not by any definition of the word, my dear. I know the backways and castle streets like a cartographers shop, and if it is a meal you wish, that can be easily enough arranged..." Riken maintained his ever-present smile, still not assuming the lead in this pleasant walk, but making sure his experience was noticed. He was letting her make the moves, even though he knew all the right ones, and whether or not she'd appreciate that freedom as just another part of his job. And what an interesting one it was.

[Altaira Readva]

Bird Speak | Common | Vani | Others | oocGah, we've started doing the multiple conversation thing ;_;

She gave a decisive laugh at being asked what kind of 'angel' she was, if only because the first thing that came to mind was people's expressions whenever she attacked them from the skies. Right, angel. "I'm kelvic, if that's what you're asking," she then gave a happy little sigh, before deciding that she might as well answer the question that was yet to be asked, "Nothing brilliant or stunning, I'm afraid - just your run of the amazon parrot." She pressed her lips as she considered speaking onward, or whether to leave the topic of her typically short kind short. "I make a marvelous house pet - or so I hear." There was always a bitter twist when she spoke about such topics, and she could hardly help the contempt she held for those who collared her kin. It was more than understandable, in her own opinion, and she almost held her breath to see how her new acquaintance thought on the subject.

She gave a laugh at the prospect of feigning siblings or in love, raising an eyebrow as she thought mostly on the repercussions. "I've no idea about whether or not you've a brother or sister for yourself," She was careful with her words, knowing very well how many people walked the world with a lost loved one, herself not exempt. "But you couldn't go anywhere with one of mine without the drawing of blood," she gave a small, tired giggle, before following on to address the next suggestion, keen to at least attempt to drop the topic of her own kin. "What was- lovers, wasn't it? I'm afraid my own inexperience in the field would hinder our attempts." She gave a hard look to those that littered the streets, careful not have her gaze shift too frequently.

When he spoke of his own knowledge of the bastion that was Syliras, she couldn't help but feel an inkling of envy. Just over a season she'd spent within the city's walls, and she still only considered herself to not truly belong. She'd assimilated, of sorts, but from recent developments it seemed that she might as well end her attempts to fit into Syliran life, and embrace her inner outsider. More than anything, it was the mention of knowing the place in a way so vast and deep that he likened himself to the store of cartographer that had her quick to respond, even thoughts of food cast aside. "Well then," She said, in a manner that was great in grandeur, and a smile that matched well, "Would you care to lead the way?"

[Riken Avadur]

OOCI know. D: It always seems to happen at least once. Hopefully this round will temper it. And thus, Riken's interest in this strange woman skyrocketed, although he his facade remained as unphased as ever. The agent knew the basics about Kelvics and their tendencies, and had on a couple rare occasions done business with them. But there was something about their steadfast nature and societal discrimination that did not make for regular clients of an information dealer such as himself. It was for this reason that Riken had always held a subconscious intrigue about this race of people, and never before had he been in such a favorable position to learn more. His steps would have to be extremely careful from here on out, lest he spoil the opportunity presenting itself. At her jab about the prevalence of Kelvic servitude, Riken had only a brief joke to add, stating quite plainly, "I admire Kelvics. And from our brief conversation so far, you submitting to anyone is hard to imagine. You'd make a terrible house pet." Riken simply offered his pleasant smile as they carried on, the pleasant conversation moving alongside the pair as the crowd gave them a semblance of shelter from prying eyes. Hiding in plain sight was one of Riken's stronger skills, and definitely one of the easier ones. But in this case, the man's arrogance had somewhat slipped, and in his statement of his possibly-exaggerated profound knowledge of this city he seemed to have opened himself up to the very responsibility he had avoided. But luckily for Riken, his vast experience and circumstantial knowledge had prepared him for such a moment. Carefully crafting his response, the agent spoke in as polite a tone as possible, his naturally whimsical smile still solid across his face. "Nope." The facade did not falter for a moment, despite his anti-climactic answer. Deciding to elaborate a bit further, he continued, a slight chuckle in his throat to help betray his casual attitude. "I'm quite content simply wandering, so pick a direction my dear and we'll see where it leads, shall we?" Despite the man's apparent nonchalance, his mind was still quite alert, calmly scanning the constantly-changing crowd for any sign of a familiar face, either friend or foe. Although to be honest, there was one other aspect that claimed a tighter grip on Riken's peculiarly-intrigued mind. And in a rare situation, the word seemed to elude him...

[Altaira Readva]

Bird Speak | Common | Vani | Others

Riken, as far as she could tell, tended to talk with quite the nice variety when it came to the manners and quirks of his speach, and although his intent use of terms of endearment were strange, it was quick to grow used to. 'We went left last time, didn't we?' She mused to herself, shifting the weight of her head from side to side, before giving Riken a hard look. There was a moment when she considered that perhaps she'd best keep her thoughts to herself, but dismissed it as she failed to find much harm in voicing them.

"Perhaps..." She trailed, vague recognition of the area. She sighed shortly after, and pulled Riken towards the right, having to time several little movements to weave around the crowed. It was like a river, she thought, those in the center most of the street at the mercy of the flow. She made sure that there was still quite a number of people surrounding them, but her own view of the stores and courtyards to the side was in better view. "Come, my dear," she lulled, sights set on one of the smaller, though no less busier, streets, eyes catching colour.

"So, what happens next?" It was a fair enough question, her own curiosity demanding to be sated. "I..." She sought the right words. "With the job, I mean. You'll have to try and find a way around the problem, right? Or is it simply done?" She felt like she probably really shouldn't be asking such questions, but she felt like she'd be eaten away if she didn't hear at least a little on the subject. "I know little of your whole business," she admitted, feeling as though it would perhaps help her case. "I'm not completely oblivious - I was a caravan guard for a short time, and I heard people talk. But from what you've said it's..." She frowned and gave him another look, tugging his arm as she hoped to hear more. "Different."

[Riken Avadur]

Riken had expected the question to arise sooner or later, and while he did not wish to admit it, he had been stalling for time with this woman out of his own curiosity. Still, there was no true rush with the current situation as it stood, and he rarely if ever scolded himself for following his wandering mind. He spoke with his usual grace as he continued playing the part of dutiful companion, all smiles as he glanced carelessly around them. He spoke in a cheerful tone, in contrast to the shadowed nature of his explanation. "Next, I retreat back into the shadows, and decide whether I salvage this current operation, or find an alternate route to what I'm looking for. For now though, there is little for me to do but wait a couple days for the interest to dampen, before making my next move." Riken felt it a succinct enough explanation for an otherwise complicated process, and once again followed the usual tenant of the less known, the better for wear. By now however, any potential threat this woman could serve was unpreventable, and the only action he could enact would be ensuring her safety; lying wouldn't get him anywhere by this point. Riken man gave Altaira's arm a careful squeeze as he pulled her closer for a moment, her soft form a metaphorical shield for the usual loner. While his words may hold a dramatic flair and a romantic styling, his actions over the entire event have been deliberate and gentle, as if his new companion were a statue of glass. Every action committed was precise, and the effort was something Riken always made certain to hide beneath his facades. This man of secrets was constantly pressing himself forward, refusing to stop for too long, lest the demons in his past catch up with him. And the way he coped was meticulous management of every possible aspect of his being, as well as his environment. He liked to think he picked an apt profession. Continuing, Riken spoke calmly to the woman on his arm, gazing into eyes that were just different enough to prod his curiosity even further. "Put plainly, consider me your companion for the evening, as payment for your involvement in my dull affairs. Dinner is on me, milady."

[Altaira Readva]

Bird Speak | Common | Vani | Others | oocWhere, o-where, shall we go to now?

She tended to prefer eye contact over masks, but that was assuming she could actually use body language as a decent tell for thought and feeling. She was never very good at it, but at least she could gain an idea, with some of her closest friends above others. Her lovely little companion, on the other hand, was rather odd. And that's all she could really tell.

"Dinner is on you?" she questioned, throwing a glance to the expanse ahead, before returning her sights back to Riken. She gave him a smile of great gratitude, and quite a high level of excitement. "Well, thank you!" She grinned, giving his arm giddy nudge. "But no. I appreciate the thought, but I don't like the practice," Hey, if he could put a damper on her thoughts, then she was allowed to do the same to him. It wasn't as though she didn't have coin to spare, with her purse ever present in her deep pocket, and lodgings ridiculously cheap.

"I won't have another spend coin on me, not when there are a dozen better places where it can be put. You never know when you might need all you have," She sighed as she ended her words. She have offered to be the one to pay for the meal instead, but easily saw him turning down the offer, and deciding that she'd like to avoid a roundabout conversation. With that in mind, she quickly found words to silence to the subject of who was paying, offering up a place to begin. "In terms of places, I suppose-" She gave pause to her words, resting a free hand on Riken's shoulder, before eyeing him suspiciously. "Are you cold?" She didn't bother letting him reply, already in the midst of removing the cloak when she remembered why she was wearing it, in the first place. Right, perhaps it was time to move someplace warmer, then.

[Riken Avadur]

Riken instinctively placed a hand of his own atop of Altaira's, gently holding it as he answered her concern without even the slightest change in his tone. "I'm fine. The cold's never really bothered me all that much. Usually other things to think about, and all that." The man of mystery let out a soft chuckle as he let go of the soft hand atop his shoulder, the comfort somewhat missed the moment it left. As swift and deliberate as always, Riken moved to help rearrange the half-disheveled cloak, as the pair continued onward. His carefree attitude was no indicator of their situation, and his eyes still were watching for the trouble he knew his luck would attract. They would do well to duck into someplace, possibly for a meal and some drink, but Riken wanted his acquaintance to make the call herself. An indulgence of his manipulative curiosity, in a sense. "So, shall we find ourselves a nice place to sit down and buy each other a meal?" Riken flashed a smirk beneath his usual smile as he walked with Altaira, wandering as much as his mind. About to make another casual jest, Riken caught the words in his throat as a subject entered his thoughts. He couldn't remember the term earlier, but Riken found himself mentally skimming over the limited knowledge he had of Kelvic bonding. Equating it to a deep relationship, Riken was somewhat hesitant to bring up the question haphazardly, but given Altaira's earlier remark about love (Or rather her lack of experience with it), perhaps the question answered itself. The man planned to bring it up over drinks, in the hope of obtaining some more concrete information. Moving on, Riken had to sweep off an unnecessary fantasy that his naive self had concocted on the topic... If what he knew was correct, 'bonding' with Riken was a fate that he wouldn't wish on his worst enemies.

[Altaira Readva]

Bird Speak | Common | Vani | Others

A small, satisfied smile soon made its way upon Altaira's lips, with the region of the city that housed the many taverns and lodgings close enough that she was fully familiar with her surroundings. From the stores and their signs, to the more agreeable folks that worked there, for what it is worth, she could navigate the small little section with her eyes closed. It may have been a slight exaggeration to say that she never went anywhere, but it was never with a friend or true intention, at times when she drifted from the market with an absent mind and took a 'scenic' route home. She let a light breath leave her as she tossed up which of the establishments would be the best to venture into, caught between two extremes. The Rearing Stallion, or The White Swan Inn.

Her own preferences had her tend towards the later, but she felt that her pocket would likely bleed at the cost, and her clothing was not quite at the standard required. With a light sigh, and an increase in pace, she set her thoughts to the first ring of the city, the bell still early enough that the best seats in the house were still likely vacant. "Unless we want to lose a horde of coin, and be scrutinized severely for our attire, I suppose our best bet is the Rearing Stallion," along with her words, she tilted her head, throwing in another bout of reasoning. "If we're quick enough, we can take seat by the fire." For someone who struggled with heavy theoretical studies, she took pride in what logic and reasoning came to her - even if it was more so because she was eager to accommodate for circumstance.

She was more than a little pleased by the time it took to reach the tavern, and was further satisfied to find that there was indeed a few free tables that stood quite close to the large hearth. It wasn't the best there was to offer, but it was a place that was warm with a rather strong casting of light, a certain the 'upside' to the prime seats already taken in that those occupying them didn't seem too rowdy. When Altaira detached herself from Riken to take seat, choosing a table a little awkwardly detached from the others itself, she quickly missed the feeling of close companionship, and spent a strange moment wondering just how long they'd been linked. "Drinks?" She asked, gaze wandering the venue as though she searched for a friend as she gave the tavern her own little review. From what she could tell, they seemed fine enough, and gave a breath and smile of relief.