Darius' cheeks were in no rush to rid themselves of the red blush that had so eagerly arrived, but the mariner was nonetheless grateful that Elisabeth was so willing to make light of his social faux pas.
"Thank you," he smiled, genuine gratitude in his eyes, "for being so gracious."
The bearded blond was not renowned for being a social butterfly. He preferred to keep his circle of friends rather small, but to those who found themselves within that number, he was extremely loyal, and able to open up and feel as though he could be himself. Strangers rarely stepped inside, and yet Elisabeth, with an immediate dive into deep thinking and a riddle, followed by a reassuring hand squeeze, was threatening to bound through the front door.
"Friends?" he echoed the woman's word with a light chuckle. "Aye, I suppose we are!"
It was not common for Darius to trust someone so quickly. He did so tentatively, of course, but there was a sincerity to Elisabeth's mannerisms that drew him in and made him feel safe. Or, perhaps, he was simply rushing towards the first possible way to distract him from his anguish? The bearded blond knew it would be unfair on the beautiful Videnese woman to act as if that was the case, but he knew it was a possibility. Ultimately, only time would tell.
Elisabeth asked if he had a preference for which direction they might start moving in, and he responded with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You're the local expert," he offered in a friendly tone, taking his first steps in the direction that his guide had indicated. "You lead the way, and be sure to tell me about the city's secrets, too!"
Every settlement, he was sure, had its unique selling points - vantage points to look over the city, or locally famous sights and personalities - and only a resident would know where to find them.
Darius had managed to regain his composure, and a sense of playfulness had begun to present itself, but that all faltered when Elisabeth placed something into the palm of his hand. Looking down, the human's steps gradually slowed to a stop. The snowflake was beautiful, but totally unexpected. He turned it over in his hand and stared at it for a few silent trills.
"In Scalvoris," he spoke, his gravelly voice calm as he studied the small item, "it is very uncommon for people who have come of age to receive gifts. Even on our birthtrials, we give to others."
Darius' dark grey eyes shifted from the metal snowflake to Elisabeth's blue gaze, and a grin teased at the edges of his mouth once more.
"But we are not in Scalvoris, and it would be rude not to accept."
The mariner gently placed the metal snowflake into a front pocket on his leggings, then patted his thigh as if to ensure it was safely in place.
"Thank you. I hope to repay you in kind at some stage. Perhaps when you come to Scalvoris Town?"
His grin of gratitude had become one of cheekiness.
"Aye, I will indeed think of Viden when I look at it, but which Viden will I think of?"
That was ultimately up to his guide, and so he paused, grin unshaken, and patiently waited for Elisabeth to take the lead.
"Thank you," he smiled, genuine gratitude in his eyes, "for being so gracious."
The bearded blond was not renowned for being a social butterfly. He preferred to keep his circle of friends rather small, but to those who found themselves within that number, he was extremely loyal, and able to open up and feel as though he could be himself. Strangers rarely stepped inside, and yet Elisabeth, with an immediate dive into deep thinking and a riddle, followed by a reassuring hand squeeze, was threatening to bound through the front door.
"Friends?" he echoed the woman's word with a light chuckle. "Aye, I suppose we are!"
It was not common for Darius to trust someone so quickly. He did so tentatively, of course, but there was a sincerity to Elisabeth's mannerisms that drew him in and made him feel safe. Or, perhaps, he was simply rushing towards the first possible way to distract him from his anguish? The bearded blond knew it would be unfair on the beautiful Videnese woman to act as if that was the case, but he knew it was a possibility. Ultimately, only time would tell.
Elisabeth asked if he had a preference for which direction they might start moving in, and he responded with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You're the local expert," he offered in a friendly tone, taking his first steps in the direction that his guide had indicated. "You lead the way, and be sure to tell me about the city's secrets, too!"
Every settlement, he was sure, had its unique selling points - vantage points to look over the city, or locally famous sights and personalities - and only a resident would know where to find them.
Darius had managed to regain his composure, and a sense of playfulness had begun to present itself, but that all faltered when Elisabeth placed something into the palm of his hand. Looking down, the human's steps gradually slowed to a stop. The snowflake was beautiful, but totally unexpected. He turned it over in his hand and stared at it for a few silent trills.
"In Scalvoris," he spoke, his gravelly voice calm as he studied the small item, "it is very uncommon for people who have come of age to receive gifts. Even on our birthtrials, we give to others."
Darius' dark grey eyes shifted from the metal snowflake to Elisabeth's blue gaze, and a grin teased at the edges of his mouth once more.
"But we are not in Scalvoris, and it would be rude not to accept."
The mariner gently placed the metal snowflake into a front pocket on his leggings, then patted his thigh as if to ensure it was safely in place.
"Thank you. I hope to repay you in kind at some stage. Perhaps when you come to Scalvoris Town?"
His grin of gratitude had become one of cheekiness.
"Aye, I will indeed think of Viden when I look at it, but which Viden will I think of?"
That was ultimately up to his guide, and so he paused, grin unshaken, and patiently waited for Elisabeth to take the lead.
