Tingles and sparks of pain had worked their way up from Anther's fingertips and toes, leaving a swathe of numbness behind them. It was all he could focus on; that awful sensation that ripped into him, through him. He was so engrossed in its awfulness that he almost didn't hear Soneya's words. When he did, he wavered. Nobbers cull him, he wanted to say yes. Street pride wouldn't let him. Wouldn't ever let him, not with them all fat and sassy and staring accusation straight through him.
He turned slightly to look at the girl and the stubborn-stupid boy just beyond her, and felt the need for food and warmth clawing at him from the deepest part of his gut, the only part that wasn't submerged in cold. "Where'd y'take me then, huh?" He managed to get out, more or less intelligeably. Torn between the hope that she'd take charge and get him food, and that she'd just bugger off with the lot of 'em, all he could do was stare.
The Clinging Frost
Re: The Clinging Frost
Erryl gritted his teeth, frustrated and anxious. He had no idea what he was going to do if he couldn't find that bishani. He glanced back at the girl and the thief for a moment before turning the corner, but he knew they weren't going to help. They hadn't come far from the place where Erryl had noticed the purse was missing, so it took almost no time to reach the stall with the dopey teenager sat still.
The purse still wasn't anywhere to be seen, but he didn't want to ask the kid whether he'd seen it. Fortunately, he didn't have to. "Didn't give it back?"
Erryl turned towards the voice and froze, his nervousness towards strangers holding his tongue. The boy clarified, "The street rat, I saw him, y'know what I mean? With the bishani. That kid you's chasing around. You get 'im?"
Erryl shook his head, and the older boy laughed. Finally opening his mouth, Erryl asked whether he'd actually seen the boy take it. "Of course, of course!" was the response. "Oldest trick in the book, and you fell for it! Can't believe it, kid. You're a sucker."
It could have been a lie, but either way, there was no point in sticking around. He decided to walk back along the same path again to make sure he didn't miss anything, but his chances of finding the purse again now were almost nil.
The purse still wasn't anywhere to be seen, but he didn't want to ask the kid whether he'd seen it. Fortunately, he didn't have to. "Didn't give it back?"
Erryl turned towards the voice and froze, his nervousness towards strangers holding his tongue. The boy clarified, "The street rat, I saw him, y'know what I mean? With the bishani. That kid you's chasing around. You get 'im?"
Erryl shook his head, and the older boy laughed. Finally opening his mouth, Erryl asked whether he'd actually seen the boy take it. "Of course, of course!" was the response. "Oldest trick in the book, and you fell for it! Can't believe it, kid. You're a sucker."
It could have been a lie, but either way, there was no point in sticking around. He decided to walk back along the same path again to make sure he didn't miss anything, but his chances of finding the purse again now were almost nil.
Re: The Clinging Frost
Huh.. where to take him. Now there was a good question. Her parents certainly wouldn’t approve if she brought home a stray. They would be calling the guard instantly because they feared he might steal something. So that was not an option.
Somehow Erryl didn’t seem like he could provide any help in this matter either, especially since he was still searching for his purse, which she really hoped he would find. The orphan apparently didn’t have it but there had to be something else to this. Almost certainly, but Soneya didn’t want to waste her time mulling that over right then.
“An inn should do, no? Just to get you warmed up a little and get some food into you,” Soneya suggested, but she stopped herself for a few moments before she continued. Her eyes roamed over the boy. “Maybe we should get you to a shop first however to get you some warm clothes. You can’t keep those on, you’ll freeze to death as wet as they are.”
His teeth were chattering and he was clearly very, very cold. And he still refused to actually agree to let her help him. In a way, she was impressed by his attitude but at the same time it was incredibly annoying.
“Erryl?” She didn’t exactly turn around to look at her acquaintance, but she did want to know whether he was still game for this whole thing and would accept to take the streetboy for breakfast. And if he’d had any luck with finding his purse. The reason for all of this.
Somehow Erryl didn’t seem like he could provide any help in this matter either, especially since he was still searching for his purse, which she really hoped he would find. The orphan apparently didn’t have it but there had to be something else to this. Almost certainly, but Soneya didn’t want to waste her time mulling that over right then.
“An inn should do, no? Just to get you warmed up a little and get some food into you,” Soneya suggested, but she stopped herself for a few moments before she continued. Her eyes roamed over the boy. “Maybe we should get you to a shop first however to get you some warm clothes. You can’t keep those on, you’ll freeze to death as wet as they are.”
His teeth were chattering and he was clearly very, very cold. And he still refused to actually agree to let her help him. In a way, she was impressed by his attitude but at the same time it was incredibly annoying.
“Erryl?” She didn’t exactly turn around to look at her acquaintance, but she did want to know whether he was still game for this whole thing and would accept to take the streetboy for breakfast. And if he’d had any luck with finding his purse. The reason for all of this.
Re: The Clinging Frost
"Whatever," Anther said. He wasn't giving in. He was just too tired to argue. Thinking about it suddenly seemed like a waste of time, and he half slid to a stop. He hadn't even been going that fast. Changers, he'd never seen so much snow at one time in all of his life. He folded his arms, hunched over his stomach, and stared at Soneya.
He weren't agreeing to nothing, mind, he just wanted to see what she thought was so rutting great that she had to take him to it.
He weren't agreeing to nothing, mind, he just wanted to see what she thought was so rutting great that she had to take him to it.
Re: The Clinging Frost
Erryl wandered across to where the others were still standing in the snow. His expression was glum. He didn't want to return home empty-handed, especially when they were having trouble with bishani as it was. Just thinking about it was making him feel sick, and the cold wasn't helping.
"Erryl?"
He still didn't remember who this girl was, or whether he should remember. He didn't want to offend her by asking where he knew her from, but then again, she seemed pretty forgiving. What does she want?
"Yes?" he asked, and she reminded him of their breakfast plans. "Oh." Did she still expect him to pay for it? "I don't have a bishan on me now, but it would be good to get out of the cold, I guess."
"Erryl?"
He still didn't remember who this girl was, or whether he should remember. He didn't want to offend her by asking where he knew her from, but then again, she seemed pretty forgiving. What does she want?
"Yes?" he asked, and she reminded him of their breakfast plans. "Oh." Did she still expect him to pay for it? "I don't have a bishan on me now, but it would be good to get out of the cold, I guess."
Re: The Clinging Frost
For a moment, just one moment, Soneya wanted to shout at Erryl. She didn’t care about his damn bishani, all she wanted to do was get this poor somewhere hot and dry and out of those scandalously inadequate clothes! Then she took a deep breath and reminded herself that all of this had started exactly because of that bag of bishani and she could hardly blame Erryl for how the whole situation had unfolded.
“Breakfast will be on me, don’t worry.” Soneya muttered as she glanced from one to the other. “We will get to the bottom of your bishani mystery later. There has got to be an explanation for its disappearance.” Looking back at the boy in front of her, in his ragged clothes and chattering teeth, she wondered if he was telling the truth about not knowing what had happened to the money, or whether he was lying about it all.
“Let’s go,” she said, motioning for Erryl to follow her as she gently grabbed the streetboy by the arm and lead him away from the market place. She didn’t want to remain outside anymore, and longed for something hot to drink herself by now. There was an inn not too far away from here, and Soneya had been in there a few times with her parents so she hoped they wouldn’t mind too much if there was a slightly more beat-up youth with them. She could only hope, but they also knew that she could pay, so why would they care if there was a poorer one among them as long as the bill was settled in the end without trouble?
“The table next to the fireplace should be best, I think,” Soneya suggested just before she pushed open the door to the inn. “For all of us.” Unfortunately however, she wasn’t the only one to have had that idea and they were faced with a crowded fireplace while the rest of the inn was fairly empty. “Looks like it won’t be the fireplace after all,” she muttered as she ushered the boy in front of her towards a free table somewhat away from all the others.
“Breakfast will be on me, don’t worry.” Soneya muttered as she glanced from one to the other. “We will get to the bottom of your bishani mystery later. There has got to be an explanation for its disappearance.” Looking back at the boy in front of her, in his ragged clothes and chattering teeth, she wondered if he was telling the truth about not knowing what had happened to the money, or whether he was lying about it all.
“Let’s go,” she said, motioning for Erryl to follow her as she gently grabbed the streetboy by the arm and lead him away from the market place. She didn’t want to remain outside anymore, and longed for something hot to drink herself by now. There was an inn not too far away from here, and Soneya had been in there a few times with her parents so she hoped they wouldn’t mind too much if there was a slightly more beat-up youth with them. She could only hope, but they also knew that she could pay, so why would they care if there was a poorer one among them as long as the bill was settled in the end without trouble?
“The table next to the fireplace should be best, I think,” Soneya suggested just before she pushed open the door to the inn. “For all of us.” Unfortunately however, she wasn’t the only one to have had that idea and they were faced with a crowded fireplace while the rest of the inn was fairly empty. “Looks like it won’t be the fireplace after all,” she muttered as she ushered the boy in front of her towards a free table somewhat away from all the others.
Re: The Clinging Frost
It was cold. It was so terribly, awfully cold that Anther didn't even utter a peep when the girl took him by the arm. Nah, the first sound he made was when they trooped into the common room of some place Anther wouldn't get a toe in otherwise, and that was a hissing inhalation. His fingers and toes went from numb to rapidly smarting and tingling all at once, though he still couldn't feel 'em none. That was plain wrong. Heat shouldn't hurt like that. For a dizzying moment, Anther almost balked and turned around to go back outside, but his shivering intensified as the warmth of the place woke up the rest of his skin. His eyes watered, and his nose stung. He put up his free hand to his ears without thinking, and sat only because the girl had guided him to a chair. He couldn't remember ever being so miserable.
Anther bent double, tucking his hands up into his armpits (and they was wicked cold, so cold he flinched at the touch of his own fingers) and drawing his knees up so his feet rested on the chair up near his ass. He sat shivering so hard the table vibrated with it, and he tucked his face down so it was hidden by his knees. Rutting cold weather, no-how. He was so ripe with it he didn't think he could even jigger a marked bishan.
"What now," he muttered into his knees, too tired and cold to inflect his voice with the upward tilt of a question.
Anther bent double, tucking his hands up into his armpits (and they was wicked cold, so cold he flinched at the touch of his own fingers) and drawing his knees up so his feet rested on the chair up near his ass. He sat shivering so hard the table vibrated with it, and he tucked his face down so it was hidden by his knees. Rutting cold weather, no-how. He was so ripe with it he didn't think he could even jigger a marked bishan.
"What now," he muttered into his knees, too tired and cold to inflect his voice with the upward tilt of a question.
Re: The Clinging Frost
As they entered the building, Erryl was surprised by the number of people crowding around the fireplace, or rather, that so many people were in the inn at all this early. Perhaps inns were always like that in the morning, considering he didn't know any better, or maybe the cold had brought them to gather. Either way, he wasn't particularly concerned -- it was much warmer inside than out and he wasn't feeling the nip of the icy breeze any longer.
Erryl took a seat at the table but remained silent. A quick glance around the room told him that there was nothing of interest, but he avoided looking at his new acquaintances and studied an old tapestry on the wall instead.
Erryl took a seat at the table but remained silent. A quick glance around the room told him that there was nothing of interest, but he avoided looking at his new acquaintances and studied an old tapestry on the wall instead.
Re: The Clinging Frost
The other patrons shot a few wary glances their way every now and then but Soneya ignored them. She wasn’t particularly concerned by other people for the time being. Smiling all around, she pretended that everything was fine and that she always dragged weird boys around with her, some of them shivering so hard that a full glass would have spilled over on the table.
Soon enough the barmaid came over to take their order. Though she may not have been happy about the presence of a street rat in the inn, the fact that Soneya confidently ordered hot drinks for all of them seemed to appease her a little.
“Could we also bother you for a blanket maybe?” she asked, unsure whether such a wish could be granted or not. She had never asked for anything in an inn, had rarely even been inside an inn herself unless it had been for an errand she had been running at the time. She wasn’t quite sure how to properly behave but she figured that being polite went a long way.
Grunting something incomprehensible, the barmaid turned around and left again, so Soneya was at a loss whether a blanket would be brought or not.
Turning towards the boy, she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder but stopped herself just before touching him, sure it would provoke an undesired reaction. Instead, she simply said: “You’ll get warmed up soon.”
Her gaze flickered to Erryl once again after that. The acquaintance from school, which she had always been trying to keep at a distance a little due to her upbringing and her beliefs, yet here she was, sharing a table with him. He was very quiet and she wasn’t sure whether that was a good or a bad sign. She wanted to ask him whether he was alright but considering that his bishani were still missing, she was fairly sure that he wasn’t and she didn’t particularly want to bring that up again.
She couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to like her even less after this incident, since he already seemed to have a bit of an aversion towards her person. Not that she particularly cared, but the question kept popping into her mind.
Soon enough the barmaid came over to take their order. Though she may not have been happy about the presence of a street rat in the inn, the fact that Soneya confidently ordered hot drinks for all of them seemed to appease her a little.
“Could we also bother you for a blanket maybe?” she asked, unsure whether such a wish could be granted or not. She had never asked for anything in an inn, had rarely even been inside an inn herself unless it had been for an errand she had been running at the time. She wasn’t quite sure how to properly behave but she figured that being polite went a long way.
Grunting something incomprehensible, the barmaid turned around and left again, so Soneya was at a loss whether a blanket would be brought or not.
Turning towards the boy, she reached out to put a hand on his shoulder but stopped herself just before touching him, sure it would provoke an undesired reaction. Instead, she simply said: “You’ll get warmed up soon.”
Her gaze flickered to Erryl once again after that. The acquaintance from school, which she had always been trying to keep at a distance a little due to her upbringing and her beliefs, yet here she was, sharing a table with him. He was very quiet and she wasn’t sure whether that was a good or a bad sign. She wanted to ask him whether he was alright but considering that his bishani were still missing, she was fairly sure that he wasn’t and she didn’t particularly want to bring that up again.
She couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to like her even less after this incident, since he already seemed to have a bit of an aversion towards her person. Not that she particularly cared, but the question kept popping into her mind.
Re: The Clinging Frost
There weren't no experience held prior that gave Anther any idea of how to act now. Once the chills took him, he had some excuse not to think beyond how cold he was and how hungry, but they weren't like to last forever. Especially not when the barmaid came back with a blanket and he was flinching away from Soneya like she had something worse'n fleas. His first reaction was to bite like one, 'cept worse. He wanted to go claim his prize, but he didn't want them following him. Yeah, that was the reason he didn't want to go.
He wasn't looking at either of them, soon enough. Stupid. It was stupid not to be gauging his surroundings and the people in it, either for marks or danger. Stupid, stupid, but all he had in him was a stare down at his own numbed hands. They was getting feeling back.
"If yer gonna keep me here, then get me grub." He blurted the words out without thinking about them, testing her and the boy without hope for anything at all.
He wasn't looking at either of them, soon enough. Stupid. It was stupid not to be gauging his surroundings and the people in it, either for marks or danger. Stupid, stupid, but all he had in him was a stare down at his own numbed hands. They was getting feeling back.
"If yer gonna keep me here, then get me grub." He blurted the words out without thinking about them, testing her and the boy without hope for anything at all.
Re: The Clinging Frost
Erryl hadn't really noticed when Soneya had spoken to the barmaid. When the other boy opened his mouth, however, Erryl turned to look at him, considering his obedience despite his apparent reluctance towards Soneya's requests. It made sense that he would want to eat and get warm, but not that he was so ungrateful about it. They had no obligation to help the homeless boy with anything -- Soneya was obviously doing it out of kindness.
When Erryl glanced across at Soneya, their eyes locked for a moment, and he suddenly felt uncomfortable in that inn with two strangers. He'd been too distracted to really notice before, but he was having breakfast with two strangers instead of helping his family. Was it the urchin's fault, or had he been careless? Surely the kid was to blame -- unless another thief had been involved? Thieves worked together sometimes, Erryl knew that. He'd been warned about it often enough, about the tricks thieves could pull on you out in the streets when you weren't paying enough attention.
As he turned away from the girl, a sudden thought struck Erryl and he turned back to her. Cautiously, he asked, "Do I know you from somewhere?"
When Erryl glanced across at Soneya, their eyes locked for a moment, and he suddenly felt uncomfortable in that inn with two strangers. He'd been too distracted to really notice before, but he was having breakfast with two strangers instead of helping his family. Was it the urchin's fault, or had he been careless? Surely the kid was to blame -- unless another thief had been involved? Thieves worked together sometimes, Erryl knew that. He'd been warned about it often enough, about the tricks thieves could pull on you out in the streets when you weren't paying enough attention.
As he turned away from the girl, a sudden thought struck Erryl and he turned back to her. Cautiously, he asked, "Do I know you from somewhere?"
Re: The Clinging Frost
She ignored the boy, she simply ignored him. The rude behaviour was starting, despite all her good will, to get on Soneya’s nerves and she decided it was best not to react to this next insult. Instead, she merely studied him, noting that the shivers were slowly less violent. At least something good had definitely come from this. Of course, this wasn’t all she wanted from the experience, but she could only do so much if he refused to be a little nice and accept proper help. It wasn’t as though she could shove it all down her throat, though he did want something to go down that way.
“Stick to the drink for now to heat yourself up,” she finally replied after all, though she didn’t look at him while she said it, staring into her drink. She wanted to get him food, she did, but his ungratefulness was starting to grate on her and it made her feel bad. What if she had made the completely wrong decision this morning? What if it had been the worst thing she could do to try and help out a streetrat?
Before she could fall into a hole of self-pity however or even call over the barmaid to order food after all, Erryl asked a question that raised her eyebrows a little. Had he not recognised her? Why had he been talking to her all morning – well talking may have been a little stretch – without knowing who she was?
“We frequented the same school. The same class, actually. It has been a while though.” Not in the least because she had dropped out of school. No wonder he didn’t remember her, but it did sting a little. Oddly enough, especially since she’d had her qualms earlier about even talking to him or helping him because he was part-elf, and thus part magic user. A light pounding in her head alerted her to the fact that she needed a break and get away from all these people. She didn’t even know what to think anymore.
To distract herself, Soneya waved over the barmaid, going back on her previous notion of not wanting to react to the urchin’s demanding plea, and asked for her to bring them all a bowl of hot soup.
“Stick to the drink for now to heat yourself up,” she finally replied after all, though she didn’t look at him while she said it, staring into her drink. She wanted to get him food, she did, but his ungratefulness was starting to grate on her and it made her feel bad. What if she had made the completely wrong decision this morning? What if it had been the worst thing she could do to try and help out a streetrat?
Before she could fall into a hole of self-pity however or even call over the barmaid to order food after all, Erryl asked a question that raised her eyebrows a little. Had he not recognised her? Why had he been talking to her all morning – well talking may have been a little stretch – without knowing who she was?
“We frequented the same school. The same class, actually. It has been a while though.” Not in the least because she had dropped out of school. No wonder he didn’t remember her, but it did sting a little. Oddly enough, especially since she’d had her qualms earlier about even talking to him or helping him because he was part-elf, and thus part magic user. A light pounding in her head alerted her to the fact that she needed a break and get away from all these people. She didn’t even know what to think anymore.
To distract herself, Soneya waved over the barmaid, going back on her previous notion of not wanting to react to the urchin’s demanding plea, and asked for her to bring them all a bowl of hot soup.
Re: The Clinging Frost
Retreat into a sullen silence seemed the best measure as the two pricks started talkin 'bout their fancy life. He weren't listenin to the girl, but once his hands tingled their way back to feelin, Anther picked up the drink that'd been placed before him and burnt his tongue on it. He swore under his breath, and immediately shut up -- weren't none of their business if he burnt himself. He looked away from 'em, towards the mass of twats in front of the fire, and huddled closer into himself.
The girl caved. She ordered soup. Anther hadn't eaten in a good straight run (bein hard and all to steal with your fingers all numb), and when it came out he didn't give no cares towards burnt mouth or fingers. He tucked into it straightway, slurpin and making a right mess of things. He didn't care. Maybe he'd be livin through the cold and the snow after all. His den with him.
The girl caved. She ordered soup. Anther hadn't eaten in a good straight run (bein hard and all to steal with your fingers all numb), and when it came out he didn't give no cares towards burnt mouth or fingers. He tucked into it straightway, slurpin and making a right mess of things. He didn't care. Maybe he'd be livin through the cold and the snow after all. His den with him.
Re: The Clinging Frost
It made sense that the girl had been a former classmate. She was around the same age as Erryl, after all, and he probably should've picked up on it earlier. Still, he couldn't remember anything noteworthy about her, which was probably a good thing considering school hadn't been an especially fun time for the half-elf. "Sorry, I don't remember your name."
As a bowl of soup was placed in front of him, Erryl thanked the waitress and Soneya both before tasting it. The other boy ate like he'd been raised in the woods, but Erryl tried to ignore it.
As a bowl of soup was placed in front of him, Erryl thanked the waitress and Soneya both before tasting it. The other boy ate like he'd been raised in the woods, but Erryl tried to ignore it.
Re: The Clinging Frost
Soneya wasn’t particularly hungry, but the hot soup did her good, so she dug in anyway, doing her best to force herself not to scold the street boy for eating like a right pig. The poor kid probably didn’t know any better. Not that soup wasn’t always a bit messy to eat in the first place even when elevated with table manners.
When Erryl admitted not remembering her name anymore, she frowned briefly but she didn’t blame him. After all, they barely had had any contact or any reason to talk to each other anyway. “It’s Soneya,” she merely replied before dunking a piece of bread, which the barmaid had kindly provided as well, in her bowl. “We haven’t exactly been friends,” she admitted, “but I remember you and today at the market…” She trailed off, shrugging. Sure, they really hadn’t been friends, and maybe she hadn’t always been exactly nice either when she had ignored or avoided him for being half-elven, but sometimes things turned out differently in other situations.
“You probably aren’t willing to give us your name?” Soneya asked tentatively, addressing the shivering boy, after he had splattered half the soup around the bowl and on himself rather than eating it. “Once you’re warmed up, we’ll get you some better clothes though.” She really didn’t want to leave him a choice with this, seeing the way he was dressed and completely undercooled, but she couldn’t exactly force him either now, could she? Especially since he was looking a little better and a little warmer. She wouldn’t be surprised if he suddenly bolted and just left Erryl and her on their own. But what of Erryl’s bishani? The purse was still ominously missing. What had happened to it?
When Erryl admitted not remembering her name anymore, she frowned briefly but she didn’t blame him. After all, they barely had had any contact or any reason to talk to each other anyway. “It’s Soneya,” she merely replied before dunking a piece of bread, which the barmaid had kindly provided as well, in her bowl. “We haven’t exactly been friends,” she admitted, “but I remember you and today at the market…” She trailed off, shrugging. Sure, they really hadn’t been friends, and maybe she hadn’t always been exactly nice either when she had ignored or avoided him for being half-elven, but sometimes things turned out differently in other situations.
“You probably aren’t willing to give us your name?” Soneya asked tentatively, addressing the shivering boy, after he had splattered half the soup around the bowl and on himself rather than eating it. “Once you’re warmed up, we’ll get you some better clothes though.” She really didn’t want to leave him a choice with this, seeing the way he was dressed and completely undercooled, but she couldn’t exactly force him either now, could she? Especially since he was looking a little better and a little warmer. She wouldn’t be surprised if he suddenly bolted and just left Erryl and her on their own. But what of Erryl’s bishani? The purse was still ominously missing. What had happened to it?