|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:11 pm
Nikiana, Amadeo, and Nadyris
Docks at Siren's Shore
Early evening
Bit windy and starting to cool off
It had been a long day, a very, very long day, and Niki was glad to be on her way home. She'd caught one of the last ferries of the day from Aimes and was stretching a bit before going to retrieve her bike for the ride to her cottage.
She was tempted to get something to eat from one of the small shops near the docks, but was also eager to get home. She could eat at home... and it would be cheaper. However, once she got home, she'd probably just pass out in bed for half a day. Market day was not Niki's favorite day. Too long. And she was too cheap to spend the money to get a place to stay, so she had a very long day indeed.
A warm meal and a warm bed sounded very tempting with her full coin purse, but she was stubborn. That money could buy many other things besides a simple meal and room when she was not that far from home herself. Perhaps just a meal. But then her stomach would be full and she'd be even more tired and tempted to stay the night.
And so the result ended up being a very indecisive woman standing with her mostly empty bags near the docks. As eager as she was to get home, she was not exactly looking forward to the bike ride home. In the dark. Even if she set out now, it would be dark before she got home. So what would be the harm in a slight delay?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:33 am
Someone else was apparently suffering the same sort of indecision.
"Get something to eat." The voice of a child, though the tones were stubborn and unyielding, not at all unlike a nagging parent. "You didn't pack yours. So let's get something." Amadeo had his hand entangled in Nadyris' sleeve, the fabric of the buttton-up shirt loose at best, and the buttons at the cuff had been undone, presumably after the scarred man had been released from work. After-hours, now, Amadeo had come to meet his guardian. A habit that Nadyris found discomfiting, if only for the boy's safety, but he was quickly learning that his bottle-baby was far too mule-headed to consider his own safety in such matters. He was possessed of an absolutely indomitable sense of adventure, and a supreme confidence about what he could and could not do. Something that proved the blond lad to be quite the handful at times.
A weary sigh was released as the mercenary self-consciously adjusted his eyepatch. "Amadeo...I'm not so tired that I cannot walk the few blocks home." Though the fatigue that rang clear in his voice made that statement dubious at best. He'd trained a pair of young men on his security team today, and running them through their paces, ensuring that they were familiar with the layout of the manor had been exceedingly wearisome when coupled with he usual sparring exercises. Ten hours of this, and Nadyris could already feel his warm mattress calling to him.
"But tea and a sandwich would help." He cajoled, though even the dust's wheedling was matter-of-fact, as though his guardian were a child who needed to be taken in with a firm hand. "C'mon. Don't be silly." There was a bite of frustration in Amadeo's words, as they trundled down the street, and he could feel the tips of his fingers warming...sparking even, as his emotions and powers interacted as they oft were wont to.
Nadyris noticed it as well. "Stop that!" It was half-alarm, as he took the boy's hand, guiding it away from his sleeve. "You've already scorched three of my shirts, and I've only two more." It sounded faintly bemused, as though well-acquainted with such antics. Making their way down the street, he paused to examine his sleeve...and then glanced up, having been absolutely oblivious to their surroundings until this point. The man's gaze rested on Niki, who had been in a spectacular vantage point to view the entire exchange, and he smiled meekly, a slight flush entering his cheeks upon being taken off-guard. "Ah, pardon us."
Amadeo, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes and without so much as hesitating, made his way towards her. "Hello. Do you live around here? Do you need help with your bags?" One hand rested imperiously on his hip, the other jabbed down at her luggage. He could almost feel his guardian face-palming at his actions, but the dust knew that Nadyris couldn't blame him. She looked lost, or at the very least befuddled, and the two of them were supposed to be gentlemen. His papa had said so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:40 pm
Though she was nearby for the entire conversation, Niki had been so lost in her own internal argument that the voices seemed to just be echoing what was in her head. It took a moment for the woman to realize that these were not just her own words, but those of two males nearby, one a young child and the other a man, apparently the father.
She was startled however, when she realized that the reasonable voice belonged to the boy. The comment about Amadeo scorching the man's shirts went unnoticed by the woman as she realized she was staring and that was rude. She started to turn her gaze away at the same time that Nadyris noticed her.
The quiet woman would've let it all go as it seemed this man was apt to do as well, until the boy addressed her. Children were a weakness of hers. They were just too cute and sweet. Mostly. She'd seen some rather rotten children, but this one seemed to be of the sweet variety. And so polite too!
Niki smiled at the boy. "Hello. No, I live down the coast towards Dragon's Peak. Not too far from here." She glanced down at her bags, then at the boy. Truthfully they hardly weighed anything as they were pretty much filled with other, empty bags and the few items she hadn't sold at the market. Knitted goods had the advantage of being very lightweight. While she was not burdened, the boy looked very eager to be helpful and they wouldn't be too heavy for him.
"Here, I'll carry this one if you'll help me with this other one. My bike's not too far from here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:38 pm
Amadeo nodded at that, glad that she had, at least, seen his way in the matter. In fact, he shot a look over his shoulder at his one-eyed guardian, giving the mercenary a 'told you so' expression. It was a constant tug of war betwixt the two, the both of them blessed with a touch of maturity, albeit in completely different arenas.
Nadyris smiled wearily, the mercenary seeming sheepish as he came to stand beside the dustling. "Sorry if we bothered you. Seems we've volunteered to be your escort for the moment." The lithe man's voice was soft, polite, utterly respectful in its apologetic tones. There was a sort of fondness lingering there, however, towards the brazen boy that was already reaching out to take the woman's bags. Goodness he was going to be a handful as he got older.
There was a soft snort from underneath the blond mop of hair, picking up on his guardian's embarrassment. "It isn't a bother if we're just helping...and maybe she can come with us to get a sandwich?" His brows raised as he looked from his papa to their new friend, who had thus far proven to be a most pleasant individual. Good. Nadyris could use a few more amiable people as friends...not like some of the surly businesslike fellows that the mercenary usually dealt with in his line of work.
"If she likes..." Brushing stray strands of evergreen from his features, Nadyris once more nodded his head to Niki. "Once more, my apologies. I am Nadyris, and this is Amadeo, my son." Though they looked not a thing alike, it was a relationship that the twosome had fallen into with a clumsy sort of familiarity. It was as good an explanation as any, should one not make too many prying inquiries as to who might have been mother to such a striking youngling. But to Dust and Guardian, the bond between them might as well have been born of blood ties.
"I'll even pay the tab for the inconvenience, should you decide to linger." Another abashed smile from the mercenary, meaning the offer harmlessly. He didn't know this woman at all well enough to consider whiling his way into her good graces. But perhaps a full stomach would induce her to forgive them for waylaying her courtesy of one insistent blond child.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
