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He chuckled, taking the arrow from her grasp. "Well, someone's a little stubborn." He joked, alining his back with the board for the final time.

Much like his first two attempts, he did the same motions with his hand. Only, the arrow didn't go as far. It barely reached the halfway point, and, even then, it didn't get stuck in the ground like the first, either. With a click of his tongue, he ducked his head and laughed before meeting her eyes. "Terrible shot." He chortled at himself, leaning back on his heels as he tucked his hands into his pockets. He immediately regretted leaning back, for the pain arose again. He shifted, keeping his weight on the opposite leg. He didn't seem to make a big deal out of it.

Ember watched the airow go and land, less of distance than before. Guilt pranged in her chest and she gulped lightly, only keeping eye contact for a short while. "It was sabotage. It was bad luck.", the red-head tried to justify the previous events.

This wasn't what she was hoping for. Now she'd have to think of an even better plan of making Liefthous even more happy than what this was going to bring him.

He raised an eyebrow. "..No worries. You won the bet." He walked to the table, flipping his dagger once before catching it by the hilt. He gestured the dull side towards her, smiling. "Just take care of it. It's not a big deal."

Though it was one of his father's possessions, Lief didn't know if he would truly miss it. His father wasn't the kindest to him, but yet he still felt guilty in some way. In addition, his father was the one who had sent him to an orphanage, then military camp, then kicked him from the house after he continued to find his way back to his home. So, why should he miss it? He had stolen and hid it from his father before he left. Just to anger him.

Lief kept a bright smile, refusing to look at his reflection in the weapon's blade.

Ember watched herself sadly as she took it from him and held it a while. She really shouldn't feel this guilty over something of this, it was weird and like Liefthous said, it wasn't a big deal. Yet something told her otherwise. Though she didn't have anywhere on her person to kept it from harming her, she tucked it, hilt down, into the side of her waist and hoped the sharp end won't make contact with her as she moved.

Placing her shirt over it again, the woman glanced up to the man. Sorry didn't feel enough to make up for it and she hadn't thought of her plan yet. Before she could think Ember had walked up to him again and rested her head gently onto his arm. "A respect for the result of a bet.", she explained before he asked what the heck she was doing.

He swallowed, sighing with a harsh simper. Not going to question what she was doing, he finally mumbled, "If you keep the dagger like that, you'll be sure to jab your side." He looked down, blinking.

The thief couldn't help but smile, his eyes shimmering beneath the light. It was a strange way of showing respect, though he didn't question it. He laughed underneath his breath, awkwardly, anxiously, and from being slightly amused.

It wasn't a respect, but it was the closest she'd be able to get to it. Embracing was meant for lovers, kneels were meant for elders, while those in between showed respect through touching foreheads; battles happened often and if one was to show their respect to another, it would have to be quick and meaningful...Liefthous was just a bit too tall for the traditional respectful show.

Ember backed away, not wanting to linger too long, and looked around for something cheerful to find. A cup of drink? No. Definitely not another bet. There...wasn't too much around. Nerves were starting to become jumpy with worry.

Lief tried following her gaze, though she seemed to be looking at many places. He laughed lightly, concern seeming to surround his voice. "Are you alright?"

He was slightly confused. What was she searching for? He appeared to be clueless, puzzled by her actions. He squinted and began to look as well. He wasn't sure what he was looking for exactly, he knew he was just.. looking.

Ember nodded and continued looking with a crease in her brow. There really was next to nothing else that seemed of interest in the Hall. Wordlessly admitting defeat, she turned to him. "There are ways of time passing where Liefthous is from, ways of good. Ways of happy.", the red-head looked expectedly at the man.

He seemed startled by her words, the color in his face fading. He hadn’t expected the question, and he stuttered over his words. "Where.. Where I’m from-?" He drew a breath, the memories flooding over him. A shiver was sent along his spine, and he swallowed as he lowered his frightened gaze. For a quick moment, he closed his eye.

Calming down slightly, he weakly grinned as he looked up once more, hints of fear still shimmering as he spoke and panic glistening in his eye. "I.. didn’t do anything." It was an obvious lie, but it was the best he could come up with. What was he supposed to do? Tell her he stole horses and the treasures of Kings? Admit that he stole items from the village’s plaza, and never paid a single cent? That he changed his name to keep from trouble?

Just in case she asked again, he would have to come up with something better. But, for now, that’s all that would be said.

(( ^~^ Hazza! ))

Ember felt her mind slip into confusion and disbelief. "Even the time of Liefthous' childhood there was nothing of fun time passing.", she crossed her arms over her chest and jutted her hip to the side, leg planting down. The woman didn't believe that for second.

Not only did the man sound as if he was starring down a wild being twice his own size, but the chances of someone not having a way of fun was...highly unlikely.

The red-head tilted her head to side and back, to look him in the eyes proper, with a quick blink.

Lief cleared his throat, though he didn't speak very clearly. "Well.. There just.. There wasn't much, alright?" He didn't mean to snap at her, but he didn't want to think about his so-called home. He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled, muttering a small apology.

It was true he had a temper, but he kept it under control most of the time. He lifted his shoulders into a shrug, smiling. "I mean.. I s'ppose we-" He had to think about his next words. "-we went horseback-riding every once in a while. But I don't see any stallions here." He chuckled. He wasn't lying, yet he wasn't telling the truth.

Trying to think of something useful to say, his eye lit up as he grinned wildly. "Oh! My siblings and I used to perform in the village's central area!" He seemed excited, the memories flooding of his youth self dancing around the fountains, singing a harmony that was supposedly the town's anthem, his siblings joining him.

Ember felt an uncomfortable feeling pierce her chest at the man's snap towards her, briefing wondering if she should have kept her mouth shut and have let them fall into silence. His short apology brought her some ease but the emotion lingered for a while longer.

She blinked in surprise at the riding of horces though; she remembered those. Unheard of in her House, but another House had them. At the mention of purfurm she cocked her head to the side. "A purfurm is a fun time passing...", she stated slowly before tilting her head to the other side.

"Liefthous has siblings.", Ember pointed out from his speech.

Lief's ears perked, and he flashed another smile. "Performing.. like singing and dancing? Sort of like theatre..?" He wondered if he had used the correct term, for he had only heard of a so-called 'theatre', and even then the people he was raised with called it a myth. He didn't understand why hundreds of folk would gather to watch others dance, when they could do so themselves and be a part of the show.

The thief nodded at her second statement. "Yes.. Two." He added, his eyes sparking with slight happiness. "Gale is my older brother. The suck-up. The 'Mr. Perfect'." He chuckled to himself, rolling his eyes. "And Annika, the youngest, was the one who'd jump off the cliff just because you told her to. More of a follower than a leader."

He'd tuck his hands into his pockets. "I haven't spoken to them in ages, though. I have no idea if they're still like that." He silently sighed, ducking his head in a manner of respect to the unspoken names. Lief raised his gaze and smiled once again, keeping his usual, perky mood on the line.

Ember made an 'o' as he explained, now understanding what the man was saying about purfurm. The woman had never sung nor danced before, though she had seen such people in her lifetime. She saw no appeal to it as it did not show strength, but she would find it today...tonight.

As he recalled his blood she blinked fondly. The smile on his face told her that there were foul feelings concerning his siblings. Taking his momentum, she imitated his smile. "We will a purfurm.", Ember declared with a curt nod of her head and her hands on her hips- her injured hand facing outward.

How hard can it be?

The male snorted. "Here? In front of everyone?" He tilted his head with a raised eyebrow. "Have you own no doubt..?" He was slightly serious, though he contained the excitement dwelling in his chest.

Of course, he hadn't performed since he was eleven, but he was positive he could remember everything if he needed to. Oh, where was Annika when you needed her? Grinning like a child, Lief scanned the crowd.

He looked back at the women. "Are you sure you want to..? I mean, we'll probably make a fool of ourselves, but I s'ppose it does not matter?"

"You are correct on both three of Liefthous' questions.", Ember confirmed smoothly with her own round of glancing to and fro in the crowd. There was a number of people still, all of them seeming relatively bored-like. Maybe being the ones to initiate a purfurm will show them who to fear of their courage.

That made it a lot more appealing than before and she felt a calm eagerness spread throughout her body. The red-head turned to look at the white-haired male again. "There are preparations for a purfurm.", came her stated inquire.

Lief widened his eye, surprised she was set on performing. "Wait- you're not joking?" He blinked. Inhaling, he shook the dimwitted question from his mind.

Nodding at the second statement, Lief peered at a semi-empty space on the opposite side of them to the north. He grabbed her hand- yet he winced and gently grasped her wrist- before quickly walking towards it. At the moment, he was focused on appearing calm and not have to look of a child, forgetting the pain in his leg. Though, his smile seemed to grow larger, and he was nearly skipping to get to the space quicker.

He understood he must look like a fool, though he didn't seem to care.

Ember hummed an agreement with the man's statement before he started moving. She did also wince as he took her hand, not expecting it and not expecting the quick jolt of pain, but brushed it off with a small huff. They were going to a different place in the Hall to which she hadn't had the chance to glance at before they went off. The woman tried keeping up with his fairly quick pace, needing to step more to make up for lack of leg length that he had. Liefthous seemed happy with it all and so she would take it; it was exactly what she wanted to happen.

He came to a stop, inhaled, and spun on his heels to face the woman as he dropped her hand. "Let's be honest," He said while his lips creased into an anxious grin. "We have no clue what we're doing, do we?"

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. Lief was slowly taking in what could happen in the next few minutes, and the anxiety was drowning him. Though he used to do such activities daily, he hadn't had the chance to since he was older and constantly on the run. He could vividly remember the anthem and first half rhythm of steps, the second half was a distant memory. If he couldn't remember, if they did perform, he guessed he would repeat the first set of steps, thinking it would be useful either way for the grey-eyed woman to not learn a millions steps at once.

Ember took in his question and stayed silent for a few seconds. "We are to a purfurm.", she answered after some time though thought about it after. Liefthous didn't seem like the person to forget something that easily, especially since he had just brought them to what she guessed was his destination. There was no reason to ask about their goal.

"We...we do not.", the red-head changed her previous answer with a side glance around. "Yet we are to a purfurm, regardless.", she quickly added onto it. Not wanting to throw off his good mood.