The dog-man's sudden excitement startled her, and while one hand stayed on Shade, the other gripped the chair. After her initial fright, she looked over to the door, worried that someone might have heard and would come inspecting.
How was she going to go about leaving the place, anyway? Previously, she'd sneaked off the the middle of the night, whether because she was unwilling to deal with a situation or because she was concerned about being found by the wrong people. Nomti would surely be lingering at the inn though.
'I... I need to keep working in the meantime, though. And...' She reached up to cautiously touch the strange golden bug on her head. 'I can't be wearing this. It... it would stand out too much...'
How was she going to go about leaving the place, anyway? Previously, she'd sneaked off the the middle of the night, whether because she was unwilling to deal with a situation or because she was concerned about being found by the wrong people. Nomti would surely be lingering at the inn though.
'I... I need to keep working in the meantime, though. And...' She reached up to cautiously touch the strange golden bug on her head. 'I can't be wearing this. It... it would stand out too much...'
Although he couldn't hear some of these thoughts, he could guess what she was thinking.
"Don't worry about the scarab. It will crawl off whenever you want it to and you can hide it," he assured her then finally grabbed one of his raw steaks, "And we'll be leaving before nightfall," he smiled happily.
"Don't worry about the scarab. It will crawl off whenever you want it to and you can hide it," he assured her then finally grabbed one of his raw steaks, "And we'll be leaving before nightfall," he smiled happily.
Raven's eyes widened a little, though not as much as when he'd startled her a moment ago. She couldn't help her slight cringe when he grabbed the raw steak, but did her best to ignore it.
'Before nightfall? B-but you paid for a room! You... you paid a lot for a room.'
The dog-man was strange if nothing else, and it went far beyond his appearance. He had seemed such a chill and threatening presence when he'd appeared, even with his injury, but now... he almost acted like some of the children she'd see playing sometimes.
Actually, that reminded her.
'Uh, s-sir, if it's okay to ask... how did you get injured? And how did you... heal so fast?'
'Injured?' Shade interrupted abruptly. 'How injured? If he'll be putting you in danger...'
'Before nightfall? B-but you paid for a room! You... you paid a lot for a room.'
The dog-man was strange if nothing else, and it went far beyond his appearance. He had seemed such a chill and threatening presence when he'd appeared, even with his injury, but now... he almost acted like some of the children she'd see playing sometimes.
Actually, that reminded her.
'Uh, s-sir, if it's okay to ask... how did you get injured? And how did you... heal so fast?'
'Injured?' Shade interrupted abruptly. 'How injured? If he'll be putting you in danger...'
"I got injured by a group of highwaymen," he shrugged, "And I healed because you all are afraid of me. Fear helps my natural healing process since its one of the things my kind can live off of," he said with a smile and took a bite of the steak, "Don't worry about the injuries though. Those bandits were a couple days ago, and as far as I know, the roads north are more clear."
'Fear... heals you?' The very idea was foreign to her. It was quickly forgotten when he took a bite of the raw meat though, and with a shudder, she turned away. Raven had never quite been forced to eating meat raw... but at least whoever had picked it out seemed to have gone for some of the fresher stuff. She supposed it wasn't really any different from when dogs ate raw bits, since he was partly dog himself, but she still found it bizarre and a little sickening.
"Yep, that's how we heal," he nodded, "Just let me finish eating," he smiled at her and continued eating until all the meat was gone.
"Do you need to do anything before we go?"
"Do you need to do anything before we go?"
'I... only have a few things...' Actually, even the dress she wore wasn't hers, but she did still have her old clothes and shoes; they were just a bit tight. She had a blanket and a waterskin, if only by virtue of previous thefts. And... that was it. Nothing else belonged to her.
'But, as soon as I go down, Madam Theshy will want me to get back to work. Does... does this thing let me... talk to others, too?' She touched the strange golden bug again. Having the ability to actually clearly communicate with others besides Shade was still weird to her, though not unpleasant. It wasn't quite as much a relief as when she had first made contact with her dear avian friend, but... just having that ability made her feel a little more in control of her own life.
'But, as soon as I go down, Madam Theshy will want me to get back to work. Does... does this thing let me... talk to others, too?' She touched the strange golden bug again. Having the ability to actually clearly communicate with others besides Shade was still weird to her, though not unpleasant. It wasn't quite as much a relief as when she had first made contact with her dear avian friend, but... just having that ability made her feel a little more in control of her own life.
"No. You can only speak to me or others of my kind," he smiled softly, "And you really shouldn't worry. I'll pay her some more so that you don't have to even bother with her, if you wish."
'Oh. I... Thank you. If you're wanting to leave now, I guess I should get my... things.'
The teen stood and straighten the dress and apron with one hand, a little sullen that her hopes had suddenly slammed into a wall. It didn't help that he intended to pay the matron to take her either, and she found it difficult to convince herself that he only did it out of kindness, to help smooth things over. And... at least there was another she could talk to, now.
'Replacing me, then?'
Though the tinge of amusement in Shade's "voice" made it clear he was teasing, Raven still stiffened a moment, then hugged he bird closer. 'Never.'
She looked back to Nomti and gestured briefly to the bird. 'This is Shade, by the way. He's been... my only friend.'
The teen stood and straighten the dress and apron with one hand, a little sullen that her hopes had suddenly slammed into a wall. It didn't help that he intended to pay the matron to take her either, and she found it difficult to convince herself that he only did it out of kindness, to help smooth things over. And... at least there was another she could talk to, now.
'Replacing me, then?'
Though the tinge of amusement in Shade's "voice" made it clear he was teasing, Raven still stiffened a moment, then hugged he bird closer. 'Never.'
She looked back to Nomti and gestured briefly to the bird. 'This is Shade, by the way. He's been... my only friend.'
He smiled towards the bird, seeming unperturbed by the notion of an animal for a friend and he bowed his head politely.
"Nice to meet you," he said curtly and the looked back at Raven, "I don't believe I got your name."
"Nice to meet you," he said curtly and the looked back at Raven, "I don't believe I got your name."
Shade cawed and gave the dog-man a nod. The girl, without really thinking, gestured with the bird again as she was so used to even as she told Nomti, 'Raven.'
She moved toward the door, just a tad awkwardly as she tried to avoid actually turning her back toward the man. It wasn't that she didn't trust him - it was simply ingrained into her that she was not supposed to turn her back on anyone, as it was disrespectful. Aside from the odd side-stepping angle though, she actually moved just fine.
Now that she was calm, she was able to work the door just fine, but paused a moment as she was backing out. She furrowed her brow, and declared abruptly, 'You shouldn't have to pay that greedy woman anything. I'm not a tool to be bought and sold!'
Raven actually seemed startled by her own words and the force with which she'd thought them, and after freezing for a moment, she dashed down the hall and the stairs, telling herself the whole way that she had nothing to apologize for and simultaneously hoping that he wouldn't hold it against her.
"Wassat bird in 'ere for? Din't I tell yeh t' keep 'at filfy thing outta here?"
The matron's shout made Raven freeze. She hugged Shade protectively despite the clear fear in her eyes, and pointed up toward the top of the stairs.
She moved toward the door, just a tad awkwardly as she tried to avoid actually turning her back toward the man. It wasn't that she didn't trust him - it was simply ingrained into her that she was not supposed to turn her back on anyone, as it was disrespectful. Aside from the odd side-stepping angle though, she actually moved just fine.
Now that she was calm, she was able to work the door just fine, but paused a moment as she was backing out. She furrowed her brow, and declared abruptly, 'You shouldn't have to pay that greedy woman anything. I'm not a tool to be bought and sold!'
Raven actually seemed startled by her own words and the force with which she'd thought them, and after freezing for a moment, she dashed down the hall and the stairs, telling herself the whole way that she had nothing to apologize for and simultaneously hoping that he wouldn't hold it against her.
"Wassat bird in 'ere for? Din't I tell yeh t' keep 'at filfy thing outta here?"
The matron's shout made Raven freeze. She hugged Shade protectively despite the clear fear in her eyes, and pointed up toward the top of the stairs.
((I apologize, but...))
curtly: Rudely brief or abrupt, as in speech or manner.
Did you mean "courteously"?
curtly: Rudely brief or abrupt, as in speech or manner.
Did you mean "courteously"?
(Huh... In context, I've always thought that "curt" and "curtly" just meant brief or quick. I had no idea rude was attached to it x3)
Nomti was startled by the aggression of her words, "I-I'm not trying to treat you like a tool..." he said with a frown and his tall ears leaned back a little.
Nomti followed her down at a normal pace and was only about halfway down the stairs when Raven pointed.
He made it the rest of the way down and stood beside raven. "She is no longer working here with you. She is coming with me now," he explained with a firm tone, the gentle look that had been in his eyes while talking to Raven now replaced by the look of someone who had been forced to kill before.
Nomti was startled by the aggression of her words, "I-I'm not trying to treat you like a tool..." he said with a frown and his tall ears leaned back a little.
Nomti followed her down at a normal pace and was only about halfway down the stairs when Raven pointed.
He made it the rest of the way down and stood beside raven. "She is no longer working here with you. She is coming with me now," he explained with a firm tone, the gentle look that had been in his eyes while talking to Raven now replaced by the look of someone who had been forced to kill before.
((Seems to be a common mistake, actually. Though, its actually usage seems to be more "impolite" rather than actually full-on "rude."))
The girl felt a small bit of comfort when Nomti stood by her, but she still had to fight to stand her ground and could not manage to look the woman in the eye. The matron, meanwhile, was certainly unsettled by the way the dog-man looked at her, but stared right back with a steely gaze. Running a tavern, she'd had to deal with plenty of troublemakers and drunken brutes over the years, so she was not one to cower of back down easily.
"Wassat now? I lent 'er to yeh fer a bath, tha's it. Yeh can't jus' up 'n take off wit' my most val'able employee!" By which she meant the one that'll do what no one else wants to for next to nothing. Her irritation twisted into a sly smirk then. "I might be willin' t' part with 'er if yeh can help make up fer the cost o' the lost labor, though."
Raven shook from a mix of anger over being treated as a commodity, fear of doing anything about it, and worry over what any outcome would bring. Shade squirmed a bit and asked her to loosen her tightening grip on him. She did, but that little thing was enough to push her into a decision. The teen stomped her foot hard against the wooden floor, and while her face stayed tilted down, she forced herself to meet the matron's gaze with a glare of her own.
The outburst startled the woman, but it was immediately followed by a frown. "You, 'li'l missy, still owe me fer all 'ose dishes yeh broke!"
The matron's eyebrow quirked when she noticed the golden bug at last. Reaching for it, she asked, "Wassat on yer head?"
Though, its actually usage seems to be more "impolite" rather than actually full-on "rude."))The girl felt a small bit of comfort when Nomti stood by her, but she still had to fight to stand her ground and could not manage to look the woman in the eye. The matron, meanwhile, was certainly unsettled by the way the dog-man looked at her, but stared right back with a steely gaze. Running a tavern, she'd had to deal with plenty of troublemakers and drunken brutes over the years, so she was not one to cower of back down easily.
"Wassat now? I lent 'er to yeh fer a bath, tha's it. Yeh can't jus' up 'n take off wit' my most val'able employee!" By which she meant the one that'll do what no one else wants to for next to nothing. Her irritation twisted into a sly smirk then. "I might be willin' t' part with 'er if yeh can help make up fer the cost o' the lost labor, though."
Raven shook from a mix of anger over being treated as a commodity, fear of doing anything about it, and worry over what any outcome would bring. Shade squirmed a bit and asked her to loosen her tightening grip on him. She did, but that little thing was enough to push her into a decision. The teen stomped her foot hard against the wooden floor, and while her face stayed tilted down, she forced herself to meet the matron's gaze with a glare of her own.
The outburst startled the woman, but it was immediately followed by a frown. "You, 'li'l missy, still owe me fer all 'ose dishes yeh broke!"
The matron's eyebrow quirked when she noticed the golden bug at last. Reaching for it, she asked, "Wassat on yer head?"
"She owes you nothing," Nomti growled, his lips curling into a wolf-like snarl. "You've underpaid her for hard work. And she is not your slave. She can leave as she pleases."
The woman immediately withdrew and stepped back from the two of them when the dog-man snarled, far from interested in risking losing a hand to the beast. She scowled then, and pointed toward the door. Her other hand was curled into a fist just in case she needed to defend herself. "Out, now! Both of yeh!"
Raven wasn't sure who to be more frightened of, but dodged the decision for the moment by dashing off toward the kitchen, showing decent agility in the way she managed to avoid running into anyone in the crowded rooms. From her "room" - little more than a pantry, really - she snatched up her blanket and waterskin, but ignored her old clothes. Running back out, she paused only to grab a knife from a drawer and slip it into her apron.
While Shade left through the nearest open window, the teenage girl ran for the door with no further stops, ignoring all around her. She just hoped that that dog-man really wanted to have her around, or else she'd just lost a decent - by her measure - little "home" in this place, to wander once more in the elements with only Shade by her side.
Raven wasn't sure who to be more frightened of, but dodged the decision for the moment by dashing off toward the kitchen, showing decent agility in the way she managed to avoid running into anyone in the crowded rooms. From her "room" - little more than a pantry, really - she snatched up her blanket and waterskin, but ignored her old clothes. Running back out, she paused only to grab a knife from a drawer and slip it into her apron.
While Shade left through the nearest open window, the teenage girl ran for the door with no further stops, ignoring all around her. She just hoped that that dog-man really wanted to have her around, or else she'd just lost a decent - by her measure - little "home" in this place, to wander once more in the elements with only Shade by her side.
Nomti was waiting outside for her, the same gentle expression in his eyes from before.
"That didn't go too badly," he smiled.
"That didn't go too badly," he smiled.
When she saw the dog-man outside, she stopped and stared, hugging her dirty blanket. She didn't move for several moments, then suddenly bowed - an action that was somewhat complicated by the blanket and mostly-empty waterskin in her arms. When she remembered that he could "hear" her, she told him, 'Th-Thank you, sir.'
"You don't need to bow, or call me sir. I'm only a little bit older than you," he said with a smile, "Come on, let's get going, if you're ready."
'Sorry N... Nom-ti?' She straightened up and adjusted her hold on the her few belongings and ran up to the man, ready to follow where he might lead. Shade stayed overhead, perching frequently to not get too far ahead and not waste energy.
'Really, thank you. I... I'm not a slave anymore, but... as a mute, I still get treated that way a lot, and I can't really do anything about it... So... thank you.'
'Really, thank you. I... I'm not a slave anymore, but... as a mute, I still get treated that way a lot, and I can't really do anything about it... So... thank you.'
"Yes, Nomti," he confirmed, "Don't worry. You will be treated well as long as you are with me," he said with a smile, "I will take care of you for as long as possible."
You are on: Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » From Afar (1x1)
Moderators: Mina, Keke, Cass, Claine, Sanne, Dragonfire, Ilmarinen, Darth_Angelus