Casual Distractions

[Existentially Odd]

(Continued from \'A Not So Warm Welcome\')

Lam wasn\'t quite sure what she could say to make Kysis feel better about his uncle\'s death - or even if he felt sadness for the loss or just the burden of a sudden ascension upon his shoulders - but she stayed close to him, like a nervous foal with its mother.  She didn\'t want to pressure him, so dropped the holding of his hand once they hit the open streets  but made sure her arm or some part of her body was always nudging his, her hand at the ready for him to hold again, if he chose.  It was a very difficult thing, to comfort someone who obviously needed it but would no doubt deny that he required her sympathy, if she pushed too hard (she believed).

They\'d only strolled into the market area one stall or so, walking slowly and just looking around (her cowl was back up so that not everyone recognised her at a glance but she made sure he could see her face when she spoke to him, a faint smile around her mouth just for him), when she felt the pressing need to ask.  Not knowing how to act or what to say was frustrating and demoralising; she needed to overcome the unspoken dilemma so that she could enjoy his company and the day again.

"So what happens now?" she asked tentatively, feeling the need to voice her gravest concern first.  "Will you be returning to Kreos, to guard the mines and... take over operations?"

[Kysis]

"Thank goodness, no.  Marcos had gone back to Kreos to deal with all that.  He knows the workers better than I.  I\'ll be staying here to manage the business front."  Kysis only had a short chance to skim-read the documents, knowing from that what he was up to.  He would have to make ties with the local merchants, find a base for selling, find a way to advertise.  It was a lot to think on, a brain overload, so he tried not to right now.

Kysis let his hand stray to hers, as if testing to see if she would let him hold it.  Since this was out in public, he was not sure if she wanted to be seen holding hands with anyone.  It was obvious he still knew very little about Oberon.  Going to the market now was a great opportunity to learn, though, see the way things went there.  Kysis wanted this distraction, needed it.  It did not help that he was dreadfully aware of the ring on his finger, that unusual metal sitting there like a perched parrot that just would not go away.  He kept fiddling with it too, seeing as it was on his right hand and he had reached out with his left.

"I want to enjoy my last day as Kysis Dinaris, though.  This title and all with it... will consume a lot of my time."  Kysis shook his head.  It was going to consume a lot more than that much of his time, probably very few breaks to come.  Situating one\'s self in a new city was a hard thing to do, and when he was new to this all?  This was his last free day.

"Are there any places you really like in the market?  Anything special?"  He was trying to change the subject, that much was obvious.  Kysis knew his father had recently purchased a place here in the market, a map to it in that packet.  The place was not finished yet, with only a few items that were not on display yet.  Building new was the hardest part, but the place should be completed soon... and by the next shipment, there would be a much better variety, he was sure.  Not the place he wished to go, though.  Kysis wanted to see what Lam liked.  It was a sneaky (in his mind) way to find out.

[Existentially Odd]

Immediately sliding her hand into his - as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her to do - she was relieved that he wouldn\'t be disappearing any time soon... for all of about a minute.  Then he talked about the fact that he would have very little spare time from then on and she was immediatey saddened.  His question about liking anything in particular pulled her from the dismal contemplation of them - two very busy people - maintaining a friendship from now on.  She shrugged it off much as he did, wanting to enjoy this last easy day as well, and looked around them both.

The markets were, surprisingly, far busier in the colder moons than they were in the hotter ones, simply because it was much more pleasant to be out amongst non-sweating people.  It was a common misconception that the cold kept the majority of punters indoors, for the bustle of a crowded street had its own appeal at such times.  When she looked around them, therefore, a sea of faces bobbed and hustled around them, causing her to have to think.

"No... not really," she answered quickly, then paused, giving him a rueful grin as she actually gave her answer some thought.  "Well, actually, yes.  I like the jewellery stands and the pottery ones.  I\'ve found some nice pieces at both.  I also think we should have some lunch here - there\'ll be a beast of some sport on a spit up ahead, where you can either sit down and have meal or just get some on some thick bread.  The taverns protested at first, but they still get plenty of custom, so we didn\'t outlaw them.  Did they have these sorts of markets in Kreos?" she asked, taking a slow step forward and drawing him with her, continuing their sensory tour.

[Kysis]

Kysis wondered if he could smell anything cooking at the mention of food, and found that he could not.  It was probably just that chill and the number of people blocking his nose from doing its work, so no problem.  It did sound very good though, so he nodded with a slight smile.  Jewelry and pottery?  Kysis was suprised, yet at the same time he wasn\'t.  It just... seemed right that way?  He was not sure, so he just kept to pace with Lam, squeezing her hand lightly.

"Oh really?  I\'ll have to remember that.... Oh, yes.  Kreos had a big market, actually.  Since it\'s in northern Greece, we were kind of a middle point between the isles and the mainland.  I just remember there being a lot more guards, and the people a lot more dodgy."

Compaired to Kreos, Kysis was finding another pleasant change.  Oberon was just full of them, and it was a delightful way of distracting himself from the pending horrors.  At least he was out of Kreos now.  That place was as moody as a woman on...  well, he\'d even keep his thoughts polite, though it was a humoring thought.  It would be simple to keep his mind preoccupied, especially since he was so easily distracted.  Very easily.  In fact, his eyes were roaming here and there, trying to take it all in and remember it.  It was strange being around so many people, but again, it kept his mind roaming.

[Existentially Odd]

His comment brought a frown to her face and she looked around them with more purpose.  "Mm, come to think of it, why haven\'t we seen any guards?  They should be... oh, there they are.  Moran and Berkeley.  Good," she muttered to herself, knowing that there should be at least a four guard presence at the markets, with two extra pairs roaming in from their circuits at differing intervals.  Busy markets meant big business for thieves and she was loathe to let them take all the profits.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, glancing at Kysis, "it\'s habit, even on my day off.  In fact, simply because I wasn\'t at drill this morning, I feel things are more likely to go wrong - not that I can influence everything in the entire city, either, it\'s just a maddening need to be in control."  She poked her tongue out and gently bit it, a gesture that showed she knew she shouldn\'t worry... but that she couldn\'t help it.  It wasn\'t even worry, so much obsession, in fact.

She frowned as someone bumped into her and she pivoted immediately, automatically checking that her coin was still safely ensconced in her pants pocket - the other good thing about her cloak was the way it prevented light-handed dippings.  Watching the person retreat, she decided he was just rude, and turned to grin at Kysis.  "You still have to be careful, though.  It\'s better not to trust everyone here; the rate of loss from pocketing items is atrocious, but stall owners get lazy from sitting around all day so... what can we do except police the place to the best of our ability?  We can\'t be everywhere, unfortunately - annoying as that is," she laughed, knowing her control issues fed such a comment enough to have a giggle at her own expense.

[Kysis]

"Are you alright?"  Of course she couldn\'t be harmed by such a simple bump, but he had to make sure, eyes following after the offender as they headed off.    Must have been in a hurry, though Kysis found it suspicious.  He found just about everything suspicious.  The young man might have seemed happier, but he had not changed that much since they first met.  It would take time.  Then there was always the notion that softening up was a bad thing, would make him more susceptable to unfavorable circumstances.

Kysis had his eyes on the guard.  The sight of them put him at ease, a sigh escaping as he relaxed a little, "In Kreos, all the guards were under personal employ.  The laws could not be upheld with any authority because of it."  It was just reminiscing, which he would no doubt be doing a fair share of because of these recent events.  His uncle...  Kysis shook his head, trying to draw his thoughts away from that, though they ended up on a similar topic, "I think... I think I may get to know what you mean.  About worrying all the time."

It was about now that a sudden wave of panic hit.  Kysis had no idea what so ever as to what he would do, with the business, with anything.  A shaky breath was drawn in, pace slowing a bit.  His hand was fidgeting with the ring more, twirling it around and around.  Each revolution he felt a little less in control.  He hated it, too, "I... what.... what am I going to do?"

[Trillian]

He was walking steadily through the markets, cloaked and wearing his sword sheathed at his side, permission from the guard to be able to do so, and also his dagger laced inside his left ankle, also permitted.  He was allowed to carry these things because of his influence, and he\'d noted that even though he and Lam had gone their separate ways for some time now, he hadn\'t lost his influence.  Just as well, because he did not wish to go against the Captain of the Guard - it would break his heart to see her lose her position.

He was moving through the stalls from the produce side, leaving his servant Mia to her shopping once he\'d escorted her here.  The young woman was now trusted to buy her own ingrediants, considering she\'d been in his employ for a large number of days as his cook.  He moved past the pottery stalls, his gaze roaming over them in habit to see if there was anything Lam liked - not that it mattered anymore.  It was a habit he wished to break, in fact.

Moving forward, he passed the boar on a spit, rotating by the stallkeeper\'s assistant\'s hand, constantly rolling the handle at the end while his employer hacked away at it and placed portions on bread, along with dripping to hungry market-goers.  The smell of it wasn\'t particularly appetising at this moment, for Dagger ate lightly in the first half of the day.

The crowds seemed to disperse a little, less people up this end he noticed, for he\'d gone the straightest route before starting to look at the stalls once more.  Just before he started to turn towards a stall with a display of fishing and camping gear (the whetstones in particular had drawn his attention), someone in the crowd caught his eye.  He looked for who it had been, instinctively having an idea, and saw her.

He was very still, observing the two of them as they walked towards him, her head turned in profile at this moment, so he could see her face.  Dagger had not met the other man, but he\'d been pointed out by one of the guards as the new weapons supplier.  It made sense for the Captain to be walking with him, perhaps showing him the market trade for his business.  It didn\'t sit right with him somehow, and that was because he knew her body language so well - they\'d been lovers for years upon years, after all.

A hard knot formed at the pit of his stomach and he stood rigid until they drew closer.  He knew she would see him soon enough, and her reaction to him was of interest.  He ignored the stall he was at so far as to turn his back to it, in order to be obvious about watching the couple.

Couple, were they a couple yet?  He couldn\'t know that, but he knew there was something between them, because of her.

[Existentially Odd]

Her heart twisted as he brokenly asked her what he was going to do.  She squeezed the hand she held - slyly, concealed between them for the most part as they dawdled along - and looked at him.  She attempted a reassuring smile, even though she didn\'t have the wherewithal to fully comprehend his new position; she still understood what being responsible was like.

"You\'re going to do your best, that\'s what," she told him after a moment, her mind turning the problem over until it almost became hers and she began to assess the situation from a perspective of potential actions.  Her lips mooched as she pondered.  "You\'ll need to re-affirm the supplies you\'re getting from Kreos, establish a fan base here - which you\'ll do with the demonstration - possibly visit the closest provinces to do the same and, on the whole, you\'ll probably have to learn to cope with offensive merchants, - though I imagine you\'ll avoid meeting in bathouses if you can, at all, help it."

Her eyes lit up with her final bit of advice, her shoulder gently nudging his in an effort to both let him know she was teasing and encourage him to approach everything with an open mind, rather than a panicked one.  "You\'ll do everything you can do and you\'ll do it well because, even if you\'re overwhelmed by it all at the moment, it\'s what you\'ve been groomed for your whole life," she said firmly, glancing ahead to ensure her footing or passage through the crowd.

Whatever it was that made her look ahead, it was that moment she saw Dagger and realised how obliviously she\'d been walking.  Her breath left her, she swallowed convulsively and her gaze skittered towards the nearest stall, suddenly looking at neither man, but doing her best to begin breathing again.  It only took a moment and then she was inhaling and looking forward again, straightening her shoulders minutely and telling herself that she had to not overreact or Kysis would know exactly who she\'d been in love with.  She also had to stop lamenting the way her hood had fallen back... and stop feeling guilty, because she\'d done nothing wrong.

Calmly, she made eye contact with Dagger and smiled slightly, for they were within hand shaking distance.  "Good day, Lord Dagger," she bade, inclining her head respectfully and hoping like Hell her accelerated pulse was undetectable - it felt like the blood rushing through her ears was much akin, in volume and power, to a waterfall.  Though her footsteps might have faltered as well, she was determined to keep their exchange simple and so was steering Kysis around the dark, handsome man in their path even as she spoke, keeping herself between the two men instinctively.

[Kysis]

Kysis could not help but let out a weak laugh.  Yes, he knew the actuallity of what he had to do, it was more of a... philosophical question if anything.  However, her humoring reply did help.  Kysis had to take a deep breath, and then he felt a bit less under the clouds.  Yet, why was Lam acting so strangely?  It was like she\'d seen a ghost or something else as spooky.  He wanted to ask what was wrong, but then he heard the strained greeting.

Blue eyes followed the one she had spoken to.  The first thing Kysis noticed was that the man was tall, with dark coloring.  Lord Dagger was a strange name, striking Kysis immediately as odd.  He had heard nothing of this person since moving to Oberon, though... Well, he hadn\'t heard much about anyone in all reality, just a few snippets here and there.  Kysis was wondering about why Lam would take the time to greet someone then try and steer around without a return greet.  It seemed rather rude, even compared to Kysis leaving Lam alone with his sister.  Very rude indeed...

Those eyes widened just slightly, noticing the sword.  Kysis looked back to Lam, then the closest guards.  There was no such weapon at the young man\'s side, as this was supposed to be a day of relaxation.  An undeniable nervousness had taken to him, with note of every other occurance that just did not make sense.  He just couldn\'t keep quiet any more, even if he leaned in for a whisper to make sure none heard, "What\'s wrong?  Did I miss something?"  Silently he kept asking \'why greet someone and not give them a chance to respond\'.  It was bothering Kysis a lot, though he made no move to slow in the awkwardly changed direction Lam was pushing him into.

Above all else, Kysis wanted to know who this Lord Dagger was.  He doubted he\'d get answers from Lam, though....  This was going to add some undue strain.

[Trillian]

The first motion Lord Dagger made was to nod to the gentleman at her side as soon as eye contact was made between them. He was nodding to a curious gaze, even before her greeting was complete. The second motion was for his stare to now meet hers, for he was free to keep his eyes on her once acknowledgement had been given to the other.

He knew why she was acting as she was, whether this fellow at her side was an interest

and he appears to be a love interest

or not. He and Lam had history, a long history, and the bond wasn\'t completely broken, though they\'d hacked at it quite savagely. Neither of them could turn off their emotions, like a water well that had been pumped vigorously there was no stopping the flow until it ended of its own natural course.

"Good day, Captain," he bade, his gray gaze following hers. There was emotion behind his eyes because he allowed it to show. It wasn\'t hurt, nor a pained expression of any kind, his face remained in the same expression it had been when he\'d first seen her; grim. His stare was about as heated as it could get, however, for this was a woman he loved, if not a woman he could commit to.

He would let them pass without causing them to hesitate, he didn\'t need to stop her in her tracks, nor embarrass her in front of this other.

[Existentially Odd]

She frowned, shaking her head minutely as Kysis whispered in her ear, but she was looking at Dagger as she did.  Her expression was wary, anticipating that he might make a scene, grab her arm, call her by name... something... but when he responded just as curtly as she had and didn\'t move, she was relieved.  For a split second, she was even glad, which shocked her.

He\'d been her best friend, confidante and lover for most of her life; he\'d taught her many valuable life and business lessons and he\'d broken her heart when he\'d told her that nothing between them would ever change.  She\'d changed, though, and the months since they\'d last seen one another had been hard as Hell, but she was coming out alright.  Seeing him now, she even thought she was mostly out of love with him.  Part of her would never be able to let that emotion go and that was his due, for he\'d been more good for her, than bad (despite her temperamental reactions, their flare ups and fights).

Against her will, her body reacted to the fire in his gaze and she had a sudden pang to be close to him, but it was brief and after it was gone, she was able to smile at him.  Just a small one; mostly it was filled with sadness but there was a good amount of gratitude in there as well.  She was glad that he wouldn\'t force the issue and exercise the power he had over her, just for the sake of it, to prove it was still there.  She was thankful that he allowed her some public dignity by ignoring her private turmoil.

When they were past him, she sighed quietly, resisting the urge to look back and forcing herself to keep her gaze directed straight ahead.  It took only a few moments (and some strong-willed steeling) before she was able to look at Kysis and smile.  "Lord Dagger\'s a very important noble in Oberon," she told him huskily, thinking that if she elaborated too much, it would give everything away.  Rather, she felt that saying less was more believable, for then her blonde companion could explain whatever reaction she\'d given that had caused him to ask if she was okay away as some sort of nerves.  She had no idea what her eyes were saying, though.  "You\'ll do well to get him onside but... I don\'t think now is the time nor the place to meet him."

[Kysis]

"Oh."  Beyond that, Kysis did not feel like pressing matters.  If the man was truly an important nobleman (which his clothing would suggest), it might explain the odd reaction.  Many nobles were the ruthless sort, and even with how little exposure Kysis had to his own class, he had seen it.  Perhaps that was why?  He could think of a million different excuses for Lam, but none were coming from her.

Kysis returned the nod, though, deciding that to be respectful was best.  The young man did not want to offend someone, especially with the title Lord Dagger (for he greatly doubted that was his actual name).  But also, Kysis had to wonder if a person with such a name would be interested in weaponry, as it did suggest.  There might be an allie or at least a customer in this man.

Thinking business on his day off, already; it was pathetic.  Kysis cleared his mind, gaze forward again.  He could see the spit, but it did not smell as good now as it had sounded earlier.  He let his gaze wander about the markets some more, spotting where the little building was that would soon house weaponry.  Kysis did not point it out.  The place was probably a disaster zone on the interior, and a disgrace at the moment.  Of all the people he did not want to see the store in that shape, it would have to be Lam.  That little shop looked about like his brain did.

"I\'ll.... see about it later, then.  For now we should just enjoy ourselves, right?"

He had spotted the sad smile towards Dagger, and somehow it managed to make Kysis feel guilty.  For some reason, Kysis felt as though he might be burdening that day off instead of making it light an airy as any day off should be.  He was unsure of his footing, what to say, where to go, and it was not because the market was new and strange.  Kysis had gotten quite the nack for wandering aimlessly.  There was a chance that he was just over-analyzing everything, which would come at no big surprise.  He did it all the time..... but it felt like he was under-analyzing it a bit.

[Existentially Odd]

"Yes, we should," she agreed, squeezing his hand and smiling more broadly as another wave of gratitude rushed through her, this time because he didn\'t press matters.  She felt guilty too, though, for he had told her about Rico, but she hadn\'t returned the favour.  His one, important lover story deserved reciprocal details from her but... Rico was thousands of kilometres away and Dagger was right here.  They both had reputations to protect... yet she felt Kysis could be trusted.

She didn\'t want to rashly jump into giving him every detail on her life, but she also got the feeling that if she didn\'t tell him soon, it would be like she was deliberately keeping it hidden, because it deserved to be so.  It was little more than self-preservation on both their parts though, and Kysis was only interested in establishing routes and decent business associations here in Oberon, not gossiping.

Quite suddenly, she wished they were back at her place, alone and unfettered by the crowds around them, so that she could simply turn to him for a hug.  It was already his greatest appeal, as a friend; the comfort she gained from him.  Sadly, in public, the best she could do was a hand squeeze; she did it again, for good measure.  "I\'m glad we\'re here," she told him honestly, "but I like being with just you, too.  There are so many eyes... " she sighed, trailing off and looking around them, at the people more than the stalls.  Everything felt crowded suddenly.

[Kysis]

Kysis managed a smile back, though he turned it towards her in doing so.  When he looked back to their path, that up-tug of lips was gone, eyes moodily grazing over the people.  Fun.  The word just hung in his brain without connecting itself to anything, floating and doing little else.  Though the squeeze of his hand had some properties of comfort, he knew she was doing it to calm herself somewhat.  What was it with Dagger?

"Do you...." The young man searched for the words, nervous about it, but deciding that Lam might be a bit more paranoid than him.  Staying out with so many people was a point of nervousness for Kysis, and when anyone stayed close he wanted to recoil, get away.  It was funny, seeing as he was holding Lam\'s hand yet still quite skittish of anyone else touching him.  His idea took them away from crowds, away from where Dagger might possibly be, and kept them at the market all the same, "Do you want to see the shop?  It isn\'t finished yet, but..."

Kysis wanted to kick himself.  In the head.  The place was a mess!  He hated himself for offering, but at the moment... it felt like anything might do.  Taking a deep breath, Kysis drove the thoughts of uncertainty away.  Would this not be a good (if momentary) distraction?  It seemed like both of them needed one.  So he gave a devious look sideways towards Lam, trying to spark back that grand mood he had woken up in.  It was a failure at best, but he was not twitching, so no harm.

"That is if you even wish to stay near the markets."

[Existentially Odd]

Her eyes lit up at the suggestion, surprise feeding her body lots of welcome, positive vibes.  "I didn\'t know you were setting up a shop here!" she exclaimed.  "Although... now I think about it, it makes perfect sense.  Where else would you sell weapons from?  Your home?" she mused, laughing slightly at herself.  "Yes, I\'d love to see it," she finally agreed in no uncertain terms, waiting for him to take the lead.