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(1/10)

What was he still doing in Belrea? It had been a number of days since his run-in with the man he thought was his father, and the encounter had made it exceedingly clear that there was nothing for him here in this place. And yet, something kept him from running back to Zena with his tail between his legs. It would have to happen eventually, but until then he gave in to the childish urges he usually sneered at, and he reveled and toured and drank -

And today he was paying for it. He drew in a sigh and pinched primly at the bridge of his nose in an attempt to drown out the headache. OF course, that only lasted until a tremulous voice cut through his thoughts. Only years of being raised with manners kept him from heaving in a put upon sigh. "Yes, I am Zenan - no I will not educate you on the peculiarities of my culture for your class -"

He'd only been asked once so far, but that encounter had put the fear of the students here into him. He turned to look towards what he expected to be a curious lightning student - only to lift his face to peer up, up, up into the strange face of what had to be an Aishan.

Good gods she was tall. And what was she wearing?! Surely not clothing, as her modesty was next to nonexistent, curves on open display. Growing up in a place that was often freezing, such state of dress was unheard of! "Ah. Well. ... Very well. Yes?"

(2/10)

Just weeks ago, Amon would have likely sneered and shook the girl away, insinuating she was a beggar of some sort, or implying she hoped to steal from him. He was a gentleman of noble birth, she was not only a commoner but a tree savage at that. ... But.

This had been an... enlightening trip. Most notably, that Amon was a fraud and had no more noble blood than she did, beyond that of his mother that had been sullied by her duplicity. He was no better than she was, and to pretend otherwise... ah. Well. That was the rub, wasn't it? That was why he remained in Belrea, unwilling to return to Zena when he didn't know if he could ever pretend to be what he now knew he was not--

Strain briefly furrowed his brows, and he struggled to follow her question, when he barely knew what an 'Azehra' was. Was this stutter an affliction or some sort? Or was she struggling to speak the common tongue?

"Is that... a place?" He asked, tilting his head in question. "Is it... ah... a place built by your people, or would it be here in an earthling city? I believe you may be very lost indeed, Miss...?"

(3/10)

Nervousness bled off the woman in waves, which was amusing because she was much taller than he was. Despite that, she had a build that came off as delicate, pretty features. She seemed caught off guard by his questions because she just... stared. Amon stood a bit straighter, discomfited by the fact he couldn't tell what she was looking at due to the... unique biology of her eyes. Was she taking in his well made clothes, and feeling curious as to why he looked ruffled despite his apparrel, hair ungelled and askew? Or did she, like Asa's family, think him a pompous looking, ridiculous thing?

Finally though, the woman spoke - gesturing widely, and his lips briefly twitched in resistance to his amusement. She gesticulated like a child, open and unrestrained. But she was, at least, well-mannered, and he fell into the familiarity of niceties with a certain amount of relief. "You may. It's Amon Sa-" He stopped, then grimaced. "Just Amon, actually. You are in Zenner - the earthling city. I don't know where your tree is, but I was under the impression your ah... 'Sisters'?" He tilted his head, "Were off shore on their own island. How in the blazes did you get yourself lost here? Did you come here alone?"

There was a rush of out of place, gentlemanly disdain that a lady was left to come presumably a far distance on her own, but then he shoved the thought aside, reminding himself that inexplicably her people were ALL women.

(4/10)

Amon dropped his gaze to the book as she scribbled into it, his bemusement growing as she spun around then finally deigned to look at him again. His blank expression as she finally admitted where she'd come from showed just how much he knew of the place, which she seemed to catch easily enough.

"I'm not, no. I'm traveling through Belrea too." He flicked his eyes around them, taking in the cobblestone streets and polished store fronts, and wondered just how different it was to wherever she'd come from. He'd always had the impression that Aishans were... primitive, but her manners were impeccable, even if she was strange.

But she wasn't trained like he had been, to hide his emotions with a polished mask. To keep his arms stiff lest he betray his nervousness. Her limbs fluttered about her, as errant as her travels, and he found himself pitying the lost girl. So, with another sigh, he extended a hand and gently guided her off the main walkway, out of the way of the pedestrians casting them curious looks. Once they'd tucked themselves closer to one of the stores, he looked at her again, "Travelers here are very common, Miss. There's likely to be a place we can find you a good map, perhaps one will even give some indication as to how to get to your ah... Tree?"

(5/10)

The same thought occurred to Amon a moment later, but he didn't recant his suggestion and instead gave a non committal hum instead. With any luck, at such a store they may be able to ask enough questions to get a vague idea where she should go. And it would be helpful to pick up a map for himself as well, since he didn't have someone to helpfully escort him back home, like he'd had on the way here.

He began to lead her along, eyes sweeping the storefronts. He suspected as they found stores aimed towards visitors they would get lucky and see something useful.

When she asked her question though he slowed in his pace briefly, grimacing. The natural reaction, imparted into him during his youth, was to avoid the question politely. But it wasn't like he had anyone else to talk to about this. It was pathetic, but Amon felt painfully alone in all this, enough to whine to a stranger in exchange for his aid.

"Well, I thought my father lived here." He said after an uncomfortable pause. "So I came from my homeland to find him. ... Unfortunately, I instead quite embarrassed myself as the man is actually a stranger and has no relation to me at all." He paused then looked at her, a bit of almost manic amusement taking him over as he realized just who he was talking to. "Blast, I suppose you wouldn't understand that with your culture. What would be the closest comparison - does a mother ever take home the wrong child?"

There was a pause, after his question, where the woman seemed to just stare at him with her strange eyes. But then she awkwardly pat his back, and a bark of out of place laughter stole out of him before he could stop it. It felt so painfully strange to share such innermost feelings with a stranger, and probably seemed pathetic to her - but he admitted to himself that it felt good to get it out in the open.

Put that way, the situation seemed painful but pitiable, not the earth-shattering, end of the world event he felt like it was - and that somehow felt reassuring, rather than diminishing.

Was Asa kind? ... Yes, because that man had allowed Amon to sift through his panic in his foyer, calming down before he finally ran away. That was kind, in its own subdued way.

"I... will endeavor not to be." Amon said, with a strained but soft smile at her. He then took pity on her and pat her arm back, in a way he hoped came off as saying 'it's ok' or 'you did well, thank you.'

"So! Do... Aishans often travel between their trees alone?"

(7/10)

... Conversation was a lot more pleasing, when he shrugged away the expectations of courtly speech. It was exhausting to search for subtext in every line, to fold away compliments or praise to be used for later. This bluntness was freeing.

Amon had always enjoyed his sharp wit and sharper tongue, but he had no desire to rip into this friendly Aishan just because he could. Not when all she professed to want was to make new friends. However, just as he turned his attention from her, spotting a store for travelers just down the way, he prickled and turned back to her, eyes narrowing.

"Only once?" He hissed, pausing mid step to fully turn to her. "What happened? Was this recent? Are you unharmed?"