“Only an hour left?” Sisara asked incredulously when Tasza’s words ripped her out of her thoughts. “Wow, time flies when you’re having fun.” The words were – once again – out before she could stop herself but the tone didn’t particularly give away how sincere they were. She didn’t even know herself what she had meant by that.
The patrol itself had been rather boring and while their conversation had sometimes taken a turn for the worse, it wasn’t as though she hadn’t enjoyed his company. Plus there was the private guided tour, which she couldn’t get over.
Blinking, she looked away from the kids she had been observing; some because she suspected them of wanting to try and pickpocket, others because they had been playing games for quite a while now and Sisara almost envied them for their carefree lives.
“Got any plans for after the patrol, then?” Sisara asked, if only to fill the silence and for lack of something else to say. She briefly looked at him, noticed his gaze stuck on something else and looked away again before he could notice – or so she hoped – her look.
First Time's a Charm (124PW)
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
"Guard duty has never been what I'd consider fun," Tasza said without inflection, as if her sarcasm had completely overshot him.
Her second question made him uncomfortable. Plans? Tasza didn't typically make plans. He enjoyed a quiet, secluded life. Though 'enjoyed' might be taking it too far, he was at the very least content. He did not hate his life, and he did not hate his seclusion. Each had their benefits, and should he become lonely or agitated he could clean or visit the Temple.
". . .no." His answer came several beats too late to sound natural, which he didn't like. He didn't like feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, especially not in a metaphorical sense. The literal sense was expected. Natural. He wondered if she would try to make plans with him. Conflicting emotions jumbled his words. "That is, well, I had planned to clean my living space."
It was already clean. He was unbalanced.
Tasza hated women in the workplace.
Her second question made him uncomfortable. Plans? Tasza didn't typically make plans. He enjoyed a quiet, secluded life. Though 'enjoyed' might be taking it too far, he was at the very least content. He did not hate his life, and he did not hate his seclusion. Each had their benefits, and should he become lonely or agitated he could clean or visit the Temple.
". . .no." His answer came several beats too late to sound natural, which he didn't like. He didn't like feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, especially not in a metaphorical sense. The literal sense was expected. Natural. He wondered if she would try to make plans with him. Conflicting emotions jumbled his words. "That is, well, I had planned to clean my living space."
It was already clean. He was unbalanced.
Tasza hated women in the workplace.
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
Sisara almost commented but let it be. If he didn’t want to answer truthfully or tell her what it was he had planned, then so be it. It had been more of an idle question anyway. Oh f... he hadn’t thought she was trying to ask him out, had he?
All of a sudden, Sisara’s stomach cramped and she could feel drops of sweat form in several annoying places, most prominently on her neck just under the hairline. How to remedy this? Should she just make a rude comment, sweep it all under the proverbial rug or...
“I should probably liven mine up a little. It still doesn’t feel very personal.” She decided to go down a more neutral path and at least engage in a bit of awkward conversation over this rather than ignore the fact that she had just asked a fairly embarrassing question, which had not at all been meant to turn out like that.
“Not that I plan on staying there for too long,” she continued. “I’d rather move out of the barracks and have a small place of my own. Nothing big or fancy, just some me-space, you know? Away from everyone else.”
Then again, was that even possible? She really needed to get more information on many things.
All of a sudden, Sisara’s stomach cramped and she could feel drops of sweat form in several annoying places, most prominently on her neck just under the hairline. How to remedy this? Should she just make a rude comment, sweep it all under the proverbial rug or...
“I should probably liven mine up a little. It still doesn’t feel very personal.” She decided to go down a more neutral path and at least engage in a bit of awkward conversation over this rather than ignore the fact that she had just asked a fairly embarrassing question, which had not at all been meant to turn out like that.
“Not that I plan on staying there for too long,” she continued. “I’d rather move out of the barracks and have a small place of my own. Nothing big or fancy, just some me-space, you know? Away from everyone else.”
Then again, was that even possible? She really needed to get more information on many things.
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
"I moved out of the barracks for similar reasons," Tasza said, the words cautious. "Many choose to live outside the barracks for the purpose of personal space."
Was it time for their shift to end yet? No, he told himself, immediately angry for the thought. Not that he'd have had it if she hadn't been assigned to him. Another thought that wasn't worthy of him. What was wrong with him?
He started to itch.
Was it time for their shift to end yet? No, he told himself, immediately angry for the thought. Not that he'd have had it if she hadn't been assigned to him. Another thought that wasn't worthy of him. What was wrong with him?
He started to itch.
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
“Good to know at least that it is done regularly.” Sisara was relieved, for sure. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her colleagues, even if she didn’t know most of them yet, but she felt uncomfortable surrounded by so many men, especially in such close quarters. The barracks would not see her much longer.
Unaware that she even did so, Sisara began scanning their surroundings to see if anyone was watching them. Why? She didn’t even know since there was nothing to see except for two guardsmen having a conversation to make time pass while on duty. She still felt awkward, and the sweating hadn’t completely stopped yet either. She needed to guard her tongue more from now on. Tasza may have felt just as uncomfortable about this misunderstanding than she had but someone else might have taken it as an invitation and she definitely did not want that to happen.
“Ahm, listen,” Sisara started before pausing again. After a deeper breath, she continued. “I know that our shift will be over soon. I just wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve offered. And again, thank you for the tour. I really do appreciate it.” No matter what is going to happen next, she thought when his warning that he wasn’t very popular popped into her mind.
Right, now she could definitely use the chime of a clock or whatnot to release her from her shift before she really embarrassed herself.
Unaware that she even did so, Sisara began scanning their surroundings to see if anyone was watching them. Why? She didn’t even know since there was nothing to see except for two guardsmen having a conversation to make time pass while on duty. She still felt awkward, and the sweating hadn’t completely stopped yet either. She needed to guard her tongue more from now on. Tasza may have felt just as uncomfortable about this misunderstanding than she had but someone else might have taken it as an invitation and she definitely did not want that to happen.
“Ahm, listen,” Sisara started before pausing again. After a deeper breath, she continued. “I know that our shift will be over soon. I just wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve offered. And again, thank you for the tour. I really do appreciate it.” No matter what is going to happen next, she thought when his warning that he wasn’t very popular popped into her mind.
Right, now she could definitely use the chime of a clock or whatnot to release her from her shift before she really embarrassed herself.
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Sinuvarakoon Tasza
- Citizen
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2012 1:03 am
- Name: Tasza
- Race: Human
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
For the first time in a long time, Tasza pulled his eyes away from his duty to glance at his beat partner. He quickly glanced away, shoulders hitching back as they walked. Several seconds passed before he said, "You're welcome," his voice low and controlled.
There didn't seem to be much left to say between them, and Tasza's own sense of awkwardness (zings of sensation along his back beneath his armor, exacerbated by perspiration and his growing anxiety) did not lend itself to casual conversation. He fell into the formality of duty, allowed himself to be the stoic guardsman that Guard recruitment promised to be what they looked for. They lied. Then again, nearly everyone did. Sisara was probably lying. She probably thought him boring or some variation of stuffy. She likely viewed the Guard as nothing more than a way to earn hard coin, and had no respect for its customs or the government that ruled it. She was probably like all the rest. It would be good for the shift to end. It would be good, because then he wouldn't have to think about how pretty her hair color was, and how slim her wrists, how small her hands.
It was not a special reaction. Women were captivating creatures, and he was not sorry to be captivated by them. But they were more than that, and they had a way of --
The bell rang out. Replacements had already passed the gate, and it was a small thing to discharge their duty with the two new guardsmen. They were interested in Sisara, but they knew Tasza better than to linger asking her questions when none of them were on break; even Tasza and Sisara still had to go properly discharge at the Headquarters. Tasza started to walk that way without waiting to see if Sisara followed. Wait, no, if she did something foolish he would be held responsible. He held his breath for five counts and turned his head to check her position.
There didn't seem to be much left to say between them, and Tasza's own sense of awkwardness (zings of sensation along his back beneath his armor, exacerbated by perspiration and his growing anxiety) did not lend itself to casual conversation. He fell into the formality of duty, allowed himself to be the stoic guardsman that Guard recruitment promised to be what they looked for. They lied. Then again, nearly everyone did. Sisara was probably lying. She probably thought him boring or some variation of stuffy. She likely viewed the Guard as nothing more than a way to earn hard coin, and had no respect for its customs or the government that ruled it. She was probably like all the rest. It would be good for the shift to end. It would be good, because then he wouldn't have to think about how pretty her hair color was, and how slim her wrists, how small her hands.
It was not a special reaction. Women were captivating creatures, and he was not sorry to be captivated by them. But they were more than that, and they had a way of --
The bell rang out. Replacements had already passed the gate, and it was a small thing to discharge their duty with the two new guardsmen. They were interested in Sisara, but they knew Tasza better than to linger asking her questions when none of them were on break; even Tasza and Sisara still had to go properly discharge at the Headquarters. Tasza started to walk that way without waiting to see if Sisara followed. Wait, no, if she did something foolish he would be held responsible. He held his breath for five counts and turned his head to check her position.
Re: First Time's a Charm (124PW)
At first, Sisara almost thought Tasza wasn’t going to react at all to her words, but then he did reply and she could feel her lips pull into a smile. Whatever people may apparently be saying about him, he didn’t seem like such a bad guy. At least not towards her. For now.
Even before their shift ended properly, their conversation ended but Sisara didn’t feel sorry. There wasn’t much to say anymore that wouldn’t make things awkward, and they’d had enough awkward moments for one day. She knew she definitely had had enough.
Their replacements were already coming their way and she almost breathed a sigh of relief. She had survived!
She thought about engaging in a bit of easy banter with the newcomers but they didn’t seem all too inclined to actually talk despite the curious looks on their faces. The glances they cast in Tasza’s direction didn’t escape her either nor the way in which he turned around and just started walking away. Confused, Sisara hesitated a moment longer before she nodded in their replacements’ direction and followed Tasza. Just in time to see him turn his head to see where she was at.
“Coming, coming!” she said, but low enough so the others didn’t actually hear her. She had forgotten that they had to report back to Headquarters. It was something she needed to get used to – yet another thing – but she was sure with a bit more practise it would come easily enough. She just actually needed to really read through the rules and memorise some. And some more protocol as well. She didn’t know far enough about the Guard yet; and definitely not for someone actually working as a guard.
When their shift was finally and certainly over, paperwork taken care of, Sisara stretched and sighed happily. “Long day finally over.” Then she suddenly realised how that might be considered and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling sheepish. “I mean, long work day. Not that I was bored or anything. I mean..” Ah heck, she was making it worse. Letting her arms drop to her sides, she shrugged helplessly before offering Tasza a small smile. “I’ll see you around, alright?”
Then she waved stupidly, turned and walked out of Headquarters.
Even before their shift ended properly, their conversation ended but Sisara didn’t feel sorry. There wasn’t much to say anymore that wouldn’t make things awkward, and they’d had enough awkward moments for one day. She knew she definitely had had enough.
Their replacements were already coming their way and she almost breathed a sigh of relief. She had survived!
She thought about engaging in a bit of easy banter with the newcomers but they didn’t seem all too inclined to actually talk despite the curious looks on their faces. The glances they cast in Tasza’s direction didn’t escape her either nor the way in which he turned around and just started walking away. Confused, Sisara hesitated a moment longer before she nodded in their replacements’ direction and followed Tasza. Just in time to see him turn his head to see where she was at.
“Coming, coming!” she said, but low enough so the others didn’t actually hear her. She had forgotten that they had to report back to Headquarters. It was something she needed to get used to – yet another thing – but she was sure with a bit more practise it would come easily enough. She just actually needed to really read through the rules and memorise some. And some more protocol as well. She didn’t know far enough about the Guard yet; and definitely not for someone actually working as a guard.
When their shift was finally and certainly over, paperwork taken care of, Sisara stretched and sighed happily. “Long day finally over.” Then she suddenly realised how that might be considered and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling sheepish. “I mean, long work day. Not that I was bored or anything. I mean..” Ah heck, she was making it worse. Letting her arms drop to her sides, she shrugged helplessly before offering Tasza a small smile. “I’ll see you around, alright?”
Then she waved stupidly, turned and walked out of Headquarters.