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 Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 6:21 pm
For someone who’d never actually walked the streets of Sulburi, Damissan had certainly managed to garner more attention than Xil could imagine any noble actually wanting from the ‘masses.’ Maybe Xilarn didn’t understand how their minds worked (nobles were basically a whole other species), but to him, personally, it seemed like he wouldn’t want to spend his very first endeavor out on his own intentionally riling people up and making them hate him. Not that he was bold enough to scream at a bunch of strangers because God told him to, either. Apparently all kids these days wanted to try new, exciting, and stupidly dangerous things. Good to know his wasn’t the only one.
“You definitely succeeded in giving the wrong impression- no weapons, guards, or carriages required.” Not that there was likely to be a right way to give a good impression to any great gathering of people while telling them their faith was all wrong. That part seemed less important to point out. “But it might make you feel better to know that everyone in Oba is especially stubborn, shallow, rude, crass, mean, careless, vile, idiotic trash.” And putting a bunch of them together was not likely to change that. Xil gave a pause, then added, “I say that with the most love for my home country as I can possibly muster.
Which was undeniably, ‘not a whole lot,’ at the moment.
He let his attention drift down the street, which, while still bustling and very alive, seemed almost quiet compared to how it had been several moments ago. Maybe it just felt loud in the midst of it. The more he thought about it, the less he liked being in Oba. He hadn’t cared a great deal for it while growing up, and it seemed like separation didn’t make him any more accepting of it. He still strongly, strongly disliked everyone here. Xilarn eyed the younger man before him. At least it was never boring.
“I generally only believe things that come with evidence. From where I’m standing, I don’t see a whole lot of forethought. None pertaining to what would happen if your speech took a sour turn, anyway. Planned for only good things to happen, did you?” He chuckled. “That’s hardly planning, at all…”
“And no, I don’t need to be compensated for doing what anyone should’ve done. Frankly, I’m just disappointed so many people gave you any attention at all, negative or otherwise.” Or he was disappointed that he’d felt forced not to ignore Damis. Which is what the crowd should’ve done. He couldn’t see anyone continuing to do something that they had no hope of achieving. Particularly not a petulant teenager. But they’d had to react to him. Xilarn shook his head. “Good tactic for the future, though. I’m sure plenty of people will listen if you throw money at them.”
“Regardless, if you need, or would like an escort somewhere where less folks are actively angry at you, I’d be happy to oblige, Young Prophet.”
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 8:15 am
Damissan grunted. Yes, he’d managed to deduce all on his own that he’d given off the wrong impression regardless of his efforts and didn’t need to be told so. He tipped his head, however, as Xilarn began going on about how vile, crass, rude, and idiotic the population of Oba was at large. It was certainly a bold statement to make, given that the man now knew he was noble, knew that he’d been raised here, knew—well, enough, in any case, to understand that with a different audience, the words could have backfired nastily. Perhaps he didn’t even know that they wouldn’t backfire now, but felt strongly enough about them that he voiced his opinions regardless.
The corner of Damissan’s lip edged up in an amused half-smile, expression flirting with a smirk. “That’s a lot to say about your country in noble company,” he said. “Very bold…I am not sure I have ever met an Oban so fearlessly and openly unpatriotic. It’s almost impressive.”
As the topic moved to forethought, Damissan waved his hand dismissively. So very well, there hadn’t been a great deal of planning that had gone into it all. But he liked to think he functioned better that way regardless and saved time: diving in, getting things started, and worrying about the details of complication once already underway. Perhaps it wasn’t always the smoothest and safest of strategies, but it was rarely tiresome or dull.
“I—” He shot a look to the other man as he refused payment but suggested it as a tactic for the future. “I am not going to pay the public to listen to me. Evidently I’m capable of getting their attention, I need now only to figure out better what to do with it in a more productive manner.”
Admittedly, ‘young prophet’ was not such a terrible title—even if it was said in jest. Damissan didn’t feel any need to be insulted just because Xilarn didn’t intend it seriously.
He smiled. “I would hope that I no longer ‘need’ one, but since my optimism hasn’t done me any favors yet this morning, I can’t say I’d be averse to company. The walk won’t be long, regardless,” he said, and notched his head to indicate direction before starting in the direction of the noble sector. “If you detest the place and all its inhabitants so, what brings you to Sulburi?”
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:20 pm
There probably were a substantial number of people that would’ve been slightly miffed at his commentary. And maybe on a good day, Xilarn would’ve put a little more consideration into his word choice. As it was, the day hadn’t been great. The week hadn’t been great, and every time he came into this city, this country, it never ended favorably. If he wanted to complain about it, he would complain about it, regardless of company. And if there was an extra added flair of ‘bold’ness, it was only because Xil wasn’t about to mince his words with a brat that didn’t put any more consideration toward his own.
Xil grunted and raked a hand back through his hair, scritching lightly at the nape of his neck, before shaking his head and letting it all his dreads fall back into place. ‘Bold.’ Was that unusual? He couldn’t imagine why it would be. Or at least not enough to merit mentioning, even if it was particularly unpatriotic. He shot Damissan a pinched, narrowed-eyed look and the faintest beginnings of a frown. “Do people generally sound closed and afraid when they speak to you?”
It hadn’t looked that way to him.
And all of his very polite suggestions were being completely mercilessly shot into the dirt. That was hardly a proper way of treating someone who’d risked his skin to save a noble twerp for no other reason than an unfortunate sense of duty. Xilarn tutted softly and moved after the younger man as he walked down the street.
He decided it wasn’t really Damissan’s business what he was doing in Sulburi, but when the most immediate answer that came to mind was a pitifully shameful ’Nothing’ (because he didn’t exactly have a reason to be here at the moment), Xil decided something was better than nothing. “I’ve got family here. It’s been-” ’Twenty years.’ “-a while since I’ve seen them. It felt like time.” He would’ve been perfectly content to let it lie for the rest of his life- He’d barely had time to think it before Xil decided that no, that wasn’t true. He’d made an effort. That was worth something. He shrugged it off. “But I’ve done what I came to do and don’t plan on sticking around for more. It’s far too hot here."
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 9:32 pm
“Afraid?” Damis repeated, blinking. “No,” he said after a moment. No Obans, certainly. Slaves — or Matori — were another matter, but he couldn’t say he’d spoken to many recently, and of the few he had—he squinted at the memory, and dismissed it. “I would hope speaking to me does not instill fear in anyone, and I doubt it does. There is, though, a certain amount of…” He fished for the right word, “…restraint in most conversations between those within the palace grounds, however, and I know a number of people who take loyalty to the nation very seriously—as I do, but perhaps with less…zealous tendency towards defensiveness than others.”
It was an art, sometimes, navigating which topics of conversation were safe with which people among a noble crowd—and not necessarily an art Damissan himself had mastered, less because he wasn’t aware of the ‘rules’ and more because he tended to enjoy instigation and debate more than the next person and cared less about the consequences. A source of great headache for his parents, almost undoubtedly.
Damissan tipped his head, weighing the man’s answer and making his own guesses as to what thoughts filled the subtle pauses before folding his arms behind him.
“Regardless, I am sure your family is happy to see you and lucky to have you. The city…and all it’s ‘vile, rude, and idiotic’ inhabitants will…” ‘Miss you’ seemed far too dramatic, and likely untrue. “Well, it will be out one well-intended man, at least.”
They made it to the outer walls of the palace grounds, sectioning off the noble sector from the ‘common’ areas of the city, and there, Damissan stopped and turned.
“I do appreciate your help…I’m fairly certain I can make it safely from here unarmed. I hope you enjoy your time with your family, and are safe on your travels out of Oba.” A small, almost teasing smile graced his lips as he took a half step back. “And God be with you.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 4:53 pm
Xilarn could not even begin to be bothered by his lack of ‘restraint’ for anything he might say. Maybe at one point, long ago, he would’ve thought more of it. He had grown up here and was more familiar with general population attitude than anyone who hadn’t. But somewhere along the line it had simply ceased to mean anything to him at all. No one he currently lived around bothered to control their tongue. Not that he imagined telling anyone in Oba of how he’d adopted the savage’s ways would earn him any favors. Regardless, he wasn’t sorry. “I’m neither from palace grounds, nor are we in them now. I can’t be expected to conform to your peculiar vocal regulations, and I don’t have any plan to. If you feel offended, get over it.”
He decided Damissan’s commentary on his family and the city did not require response. Because while the young man was wrong and saying so about anything would probably incite the debate Damis clearly thrived in, this particular response, in this one instance, didn’t actually reek of sneaky noble undertones of haughty smugness or contempt. Which was far more than Xilarn expected or could have asked for. Leaving it on that note seemed an almost strangely positive end. His posture relaxed a fraction, and he sighed. “Thank you.”
It didn’t mean he was any less grateful to see the segregating walls that marked the noble quarter. Getting rid of Damissan was as much a blessing as any. And thankfully no one was notably worse off for the encounter.
Xil bit back commentary that the young man ‘try and keep himself out of trouble.’ Not likely to happen even if he did say it, if the barely-there traces of a teasing smile were any indication. Instead, he scoffed, shook his head, and settled for, “And luck with you,” before turning his back and stuffing his hands in his pockets. “You’re gonna need it, kid.” Waiting for anything after that was unnecessary and unwanted, and Xil strode off back the way they’d come.
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