A Face in the Crowd.

[Skylar]

“How longs awhile?” She was slightly surprised at her forwardness. Really it was none of her business, but she couldn’t help but wonder-out loud it seemed. Was he asking her to wait here for him? She considered this and wonder if she would have the will to sit by while he was away. Her, alone here, in this strange place.

She also considered asking him if she could tag along. Traveling was obviously her forte, but then again, who was she to ask such a thing? If he wanted her to come, he would have to ask her. This is what she told herself, least for now.

“Maybe when we are done here you could show me some inns? I really need to find a place to stay while I’m here.” She had enough cash for a few days to live off of, after that she would have to improvise. Now, however, making any kind of legal spectacle of herself seemed disrespectful to him. She was sure she could figure out something though.

[Sage]

As Xavier had sat, and had the chance to calm down, his wings had receded into his back. His new vest would be torn, as would be the shirt beneath it, but there would be no visible sign of the extremities ever having been there. Instead, on his shoulder blades were two rather cartoonish depictions of wings, tattooed there over the spot where they grew and connected to his bone. They did not burrow there, which would be clear because of how spotless they were when they erupted outward, but instead completely manifested and dissolved out of and into thin air.

" It shouldn't be any longer than a month, including travel. I wouldn't ask that you stay and be uncomfortable, however. If you would allow me, I could put you up in your own place, and you could eat at places like this every night. " He realized how boring that could sound to a free spirit like her, or even himself. But he sincerely prayed that he was worthy for a few weeks of her idle time.

" After I get back, I won't have to go back to the coast for quite some time. We could travel, if you liked. "

[Skylar]

She couldn’t help but snack on the berries as he spoke. They were addicting as was his company: sweet to the taste, and appealing to the eyes. “Hmm.” It was more to her own thoughts then to his words, but she was sure he would be able to see her eyes light up when she heard he was willing to pick up the tab should she stay.

“That is so very kind of you. I really don’t know how to repay your kindness. No one has ever been this nice to me before.” It wasn’t that people were rude, but she never really allowed anyone close, least not anyone she didn’t plan right off the bat to leave in the middle of the night. Her eyes averted out the window...

A month. It really wasn’t that long of a time, but for her it seemed like an eternity. Playing back her memories, she couldn’t remember being in one place more then a week, maybe two. But what could he have to do that would take that amount of time? It was none of her business, and she refused to ask him.

Once more she returned her gaze to him, and her heart fluttered. Clearing her throat, she wet her lips and smiled at him. Playing over his good points as well as the bad. Only, his bad weren’t bad....just, different. Nothing she couldn’t handle....

“Sure, I can allow that.” Something deep down told her she would be a fool to refuse his generous offer. It told her, that it was worth taking the chance. So many emotions filled her in this moment, behavior that she kept reminding herself wasn’t.....her. But maybe....maybe it was and she’d just never had a reason before to feel this way.

[Sage]

He was relieved she had taken the proposal well. Everything about her screamed compatibility to him. Normal girls, Algerothian girls would have taken exception to being put up in a room to await his return, even despite the extraordinary circumstances involved. It was his body, after all, and he couldn't give all of himself to here anyway, until he had it back. Just one more job.

He simply avoided the potential confrontation with that subject. If she wasn't going to ask where he was going, he certainly wasn't going to tell her. And he didn't even have to lie.

" They have Schildkrötensuppe. It's rare they have it on the menu, we should try that. " His Algerothian was flawless, having been speaking it alongside the Common tongue since birth. The translation would be obvious to any Algerothian, and the meaning, though he was mildly interested to see whether she spoke the language or not. After all, he still had no idea where she was from, and this could end up as a polite way to ask, should she not know.

[Skylar]

“That sounds interesting.” She’d take his word on the matter and question it no further. Besides, if they waited much longer, she’d be full from the snacks that were set on the table earlier.

She tapped her long fingernails on the table top. All the unanswered questions taunting her. She wrapped her fingers around the glass before her, bringing it first to her nose, then to her lips. It tasted like nothing she had ever consumed before in her life. She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the taste, trying to pick out the different flavors that melodically worked in this glass.

“This is delicious.” She nodded toward the cup as she pulled her legs up underneath herself. Her clothes were still damp, but she was not uncomfortable in the least. Nothing could be more comfortable then being here with him.

[Sage]

" Oh? " Well, she definitely wasn't Algerothian. Schildkrötensuppe was delicious, made from a giant species of turtle found in the fresh waters of the Torynian River. It was, however, poisonous to around one percent of the general populous. He frowned to himself, understanding that she wasn't going to outright question his choices by asking to qualify or explain them.

" On second thought, I'd like to avoid having your heart stop beating over some turtle meat. By the way. Where are you from, Frankie? "

The question was blunt, but at least he had tried to work around it before coming right out with it. He pretended to be interested in the drink, as she had her first taste of it. He didn't have the heart to tell her exactly how many pounds of gold it was worth, for fear of ruining her enjoying it. " It is quite good, isn't it? But expensive. "

[Skylar]

Her eyes widened as she looked at him. “I’m glad you changed your mind then...” Turtle, she’d had it before, and it wasn’t bad, not worth dying over though. She choked on her second drink as he asked where she was from, this time, more forward then before.

“Like I said, there’s nowhere I call home. I travel, that’s about the extent of it.” And her life had always been that way. She couldn’t remember her family at all, the place she was born, just that she was tossed around from family to family until she was old enough to take out on her own. Not exactly the story she’d like to share with him.

Her thoughts soon turned to money. She was never a worldly person. She didn’t need much to survive, and she didn’t ever want for anything she didn’t need. That is, until now....She wondered if he felt the same way.

She noticed she was staring at him, more then likely with a dreamy look in her eyes, shaking her head she rested her chin in her palm. “How about you? You always lived around here?” She would have to admit, of all the places she had been this one was the most beautiful. Surely there was enough for her to see that could take up a month of her time.

[Sage]

He was content to accept her answer, and determined not to cloud the truth anymore when asked direct questions, he answered, in detail.

" Well, I was born near here, in a little town called Bale. Nothing special. I grew up with my best friend, after my parents died. His family took me in as one of their own, but I wasn't special like them. "

Xavier took a moment to take a sip of his drink, and grabbed himself a handful of the ambrosia, popping some of it into his mouth between sentences.

" When we were barely teens, Syrus came. He had just taken the throne, and was building up a secret society to back the military. Of course they chose Alistair for his talents. But he wouldn't go without me, I never understood why he turned down such an opportunity. Of course, I hadn't gone through ascension then, and aside from being a bit stronger than normal, I was still nothing special. You would have liked Alistair. He had the power to protect people, literally and figuratively. You could really feel safe with him watching your back, you know? "

Xavier gave himself a moment, so as not to bawl like a child, partially hiding his face behind his menu.

" Anyway, as it turns out, my body really took to the rigorous training they gave us, and I turned out to be handy to have around as well. For most of my life, I existed in secret within the Metsuke, but I got to see some amazing places. "

[Skylar]

His story made her reconsider her cheap answer to his direct question. This man was asking her to stay here and wait on him while he was out working, and she couldn’t even give him a proper answer. It seemed this man made her question a lot about herself.

Reaching across the table she snatched up his hand before he could pick up another bite of the ambrosia. The look on her face was serious, and her tone even more so.

“Listen, I’ve really enjoyed this time here with you, and I like the idea of being here for you when you return from your trip.” The conversation had definitely taken a turn toward the serious. But it was important to her that he understood what she was saying.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, for myself, or anyone else.” She took in a deep breath and loosened her grip on his hand, allowing him to pull it away if he wished. “I’m not a good person. My family didn’t care for me, and I was tossed around like an object. When I was old enough, I left that all behind, not always doing the most honest things to keep going.”

She wet her lips, wondering how much detail she should go into. She didn’t wanna scare him off, she didn’t want his pity, but she didn’t want to lead him blindly into something either. “I used to tell myself I do the things I do to survive. The truth is, I could have worked and stayed in one place....I could have worked in one place long enough to make the cash I needed to move on, but honest work didn’t get me the money fast enough. And that’s the truth of it.”

She didn’t say another work, just sat there, letting him soak it in for a moment, or however long he would need. She wasn’t ashamed of her life, but she wasn’t proud either. “And if you don’t want me to stay now, I totally understand and will leave whenever you wish it.” Her voice was small when she spoke those last words, hoping beyond hope he didn’t as her to leave, yet she was fully prepared to if that is what he desired.

[Sage]

Xavier shook his head, obviously not put off by her statement. " Frankie. I don't know if you notice, but I don't have a lot of talents, I am certainly not proficient with craft or trade. Sometimes I am paid to guard something, escort something, or find something. But for the most part, I kill people for money. "

He wasn't proud of what he had to do, either. But when the crown asked you to do something, you did it, and without question. It was not as if it had been the career path he'd chosen, and who knows whether he would have been able to pick up a trade at some point in his life. He was picked, because of Alistair. And so he acted without hesitation when ordered to. He left that life behind for a reason, and now he only took jobs that helped him on his way to getting his body back.

" I won't have to do that forever, but that is the reality. These people...they consider me good because I just happened to kill their enemies. But if I had been born elsewhere, I would have been the villain. "

[Skylar]

She had an inkling his job required him to do things one normally would not speak of, but hearing it from his mouth made her heart jump up in her throat. Only, she wasn’t frightened, she sympathized. The hero of one place is always a villain in another.

“You are so much more then you know.” She smiled at him, patting his hand gently. “Does this mean you still wish me to stay?” She had made her mind up. If he wanted her there, she would be there, it was that simple. Perhaps their fates entwined for a reason, they had to, because she never got to know anyone before, let alone like this.

[Sage]

He couldn't help but flash back to their freefalling kiss. Such feelings, he'd never had the luxury of experiencing. And what had it all been for? A man, a town, a country? He regretted not having met Frankie in his youth, he could have been happy, and more importantly, whole.

" I would think that would be obvious. " His smile came all the easier knowing she was at least at ease with him, if only not with her own self. " You know I would ask you to come with me, if I thought I could keep my promise. "

He meant it sincerely. He had given her his word to keep her safe, and her being inside Toryn was as good as having his sword at her side, but if he were to take him with her, he would not be able to focus on completing his given tasks for fear of harm befalling her. He couldn't stand letting down another human being who trusted him. There had only been two before her, after all.

[Skylar]

She was ecstatic as well as nervous. She was sure this was all new for him, too. Least, somewhere deep down she kinda hoped it was for him. As selfish as it sounded it would only make this all that much more special to her.

“I’ll be honest. Going with you sounds so much better then staying here, but I also understand that you are going out on a job, distractions are not needed.” She would consider herself a distraction, while most woman would turn their noses up at the thought, she wasn’t most woman. After all he did promise her she’d be safe, and she knew he meant it when he agreed.

“How long do I have you for?” It came out more provocative then she intended, almost causing herself to blush. She didn’t even try to correct her statement though, perhaps in some way is was truth, no matter how provocative it sounded.

[Sage]

He took a moment to assess the state of his garb, pretending not to hear her refer to herself as a distraction, so that he would not have to correct herself. He was already damp, wearing no sleeves, and had two large tears in the back of his shirt and vest. He might as well not be wearing anything at all. He pulled his swordbelt off, dropping it beneath the table. He would feel most naked without it, not so much worried about clothes, but he would look silly with just a leather harness. The clothes gave way easily from his strength, not even bother to start tearing them at the previous rips, but rather simply shredding them in one motion from the front.

He was embarrassed, but not for stripping. Her comment had been somewhat suggestive, already. He applied the soft towel to his chest and neck, attempting to get as dry as possible, and he enjoyed the heated roof for the first time now without feeling a wet draft on his back. His tone was incredible, and his muscles were well developed and covered most of him. Xavier had strength in places most humans didn't even have muscles.

" I'll be here for at least a week. And who knows? If I concentrate, I could be back in as little as that once I leave. "

[Skylar]

He seemed to not be listening at all, but she knew better. A small smile graced her lips as she watched him tear from his manly form his shirt. Nervously, she cleared her throat, but allowed her eyes to remain on his form. Muscles rippled over his inviting skin, she could easily see her fingertips wandering over each and every one.

“That sounds wonderful.” It was like she didn’t hear his words now, though she had. A week wasn’t long, well...not long enough, but she would survive.

Her belly rumbled once again. She couldn’t wait to eat actually food. It was no wonder she was so thin. “So, uh...have you decided what we will be eating?” She had, after all left the ordering of the food up to him.