makingitupashegoes | Get in loser, we're going shopping

Get in loser, we're going shopping

Did Kion really know why he'd been invited along to Treviso? Not entirely. Cities were still a bit much to him for all he enjoyed the bustle of people at the same time. But he was definitely restless- a lot of their mission currently was information gathering which he really couldn't help much with now that plans had been made and contacts had been alerted. Which left him often enough at loose ends in the Lighthouse.

He'd not minded accepting the invitation- it was just apparently a trawl through the city and markets, nothing world-shaking, but he definitely had energy to burn, which was what had him cheerfully wandering the market district with Amaranto. Typically sticking near the taller elf to avoid being separated, but occasionally he just had to scoot off one way or the other to get a look at something interesting in a stall, or pause to gawk cheerfully at some street entertainer's impressive trick.

Ammy would have to be mindful if he didn't want to wander off without Kion on accident.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Amaranto de Riva - a Crow and... not quite a native, but close enough - is at once both imminently at home and always on high alert on the streets of Treviso. Any Crow may take out a contract on another Crow, and Amaranto has learned enough about his strange new companion and his own city that a contract on Kion may not be unexpected, either.

— Which is why it is incredibly vexing that it takes only long enough for Amaranto to check the windows around them for archers for Kion to stop or meander off. ...Though, the Trevisan cannot be terribly cross. Kion's excitement seems genuine, and Amaranto is pleased to show off the city he is so fond of. Amaranto stops frequently, too: at least one coin in every dish he sees, whether its owner is beggar or performer. Many of them he knows, several by name. Though either of the elves might stop now and then, Amaranto has a distinct destination in mind.

"Mira, now," he warns, slipping a gloved hand into the crook of Kion's arm, "we're taking a bit of a shortcut from here- do not go disappearing into any doorways, mm? No matter how tempting the faces there." Amaranto winks playfully, but does not let go of his companion. "Almost there."

Between the pair of them, no plate is going without coin, that much is for certain. And not a single feline is going without at least a passing stroke unless they look particularly uninterested in attention. But that's hardly new behavior, Kion has always been a cheerful lover of all things fluffy and cute.

He might feel a bit bad if he realized he was annoying his companion to be fair, it wasn't his intent! But it was the first time he could actually just see Treviso without having to rush to some objective or threat that needs stopping. So he was admittedly a bit more excited than sensible. But the touch of a hand at his arm slowed him enough to turn his smile on Amaranto instead, nodding his understanding at the instruction. "Lead the way!"

The warm drop of his own hand over the other elf's on his arm was partly out of just that near-instinctive need to touch when allowed that Kion seemed to have, and partly out of playful assurance that he'd stick with the Crow here.

Amaranto was true to his promise - they twisted and turned through alley after alley, until surely it must have seemed that they'd gone in a full circle - or were trapped in a maze, one. But the elf knocked a little rhythm on one door with a small wooden sign written in the elvhen language.

A peephole snapped open, and weathered eyes peered at them suspiciously, before opening in recognition. The slit in the door snapped closed just as quickly, and the door opened. "Andaran atish'an, da'len!" greeted a wizened old elf, bent at the waist. "Aneth ara, lethallin," answered Amaranto warmly. He turned then to Kion. "This is Sulanehn, the best cobbler in Antiva. Sulanehn, this is my friend Rook. He can't stand the shem's boots and keeps losing them."

Lost or not, Kion was perfectly content to trust that Amaranto would lead them true. Peeking curiously this way and that of course, but sticking to the other's side more out of the thought that it would undoubtedly stress him out to have to go track the shorter elf down if they accidentally got separated.

Wherever he thought they were going to stop, this wasn't it. Kion blinked in surprise as the pair greeted each other, especially as he was introduced.

"Ahn? Well before I came out here I never needed boots." Pointed out in a wryly amused tone. "A pleasure though, Sulanehn."

The old woman tilted her head, as though sizing Kion up, then peered down, examining his shoes. She tutted disapprovingly, and waved them inside. "Come, come," she insisted. "Sit, put your feet here lad."

Amaranto gave Kion a knowing little smile, and gestured in front of him with a playful flourish.

"Granny," Amaranto called after the elf when they were inside, "Got any coffee?" The woman tutted again, though her voice was fond as much as it was scolding. "Damn Crow types... don't let them get old enough to be raised properly! You know where it is, make some yourself! And bring enough monjavina for your friend and me, too." Sulanehn eyed Kion critically. "Keep an eye on that one, he'll eat you out of house and home."

Kion wasn't about to argue with Sulanehn, but even as he was moving to sit where she told him, he would absolutely be making a face at Amaranto at that playful sort of gesture.

They were all mature adults here!

And he was hardly surprised at his companion immediately seeking out coffee, chuckling softly. "Honestly, he'll have to beat me to it." Admitted in a cheerful, unrepentant tone.

Despite her opinions about a young man like Amaranto eating her out of house and home, Sulanehn nodded approvingly at Kion's answer. She shuffled a stool over and sat in front of him with a ribbon and parchment, and began measuring.

"Good, good, a handsome young man as yourself should eat a lot!"

"What about me, Granny?" Amaranto asked from nearby, just audible over the sound of clinking china. "You go swinging about the city like a monkey - you'll break the ziplines if you eat too much!" she answered hotly. Then, more quietly to Kion, as if sharing a secret: "Don't mind us, da'len. He's a good boy, but tell him that and it'll go to his head. Got enough assassins around here with their heads stuffed full of crow feathers and hot air, don't need any more."

Kion can't help but laugh in response, entirely pleased at the compliment.

"Especially if I'm to swing my axe around at all effectively. Takes plenty of energy."

Oh. Poor Amaranto is apparently her favorite teasing target, that's... actually really cute. Kion leans in slightly at Sulanehn's quiet tone, nodding his understanding with playful seriousness. "Hm... but he does get all flustered when I hit on the right compliments, and that's too charming to give up."

The old woman's eyes glittered. "You'll have to keep him in line. A tall order, that one."

The Crow returned from the kitchen, preceded by the aromatic scent of espresso filling the tiny home and workshop. "What are you two conspiring about in here?" he asked with mock suspicion, setting a tray of pot, three cups, and several hearty slices of a sweet bread on a nearby table.

Sulanehn peered up at Amaranto as though looking at him over the rim of spectacles she didn't have, making a show of writing down measurements as though she hadn't been doing anything else. "You know better than to pry in an old woman's business, chico." Amaranto held up his hands. "Yes, of course, yes. Coffee?"

"I'm up to the challenge." He assured her with a playful wink that melted to an almost innocent look when Amaranto returned with the tray, curiously interested in what was there already. He was no coffee connoisseur but what the Crow made always tasted nice anyways.

"The good stuff is wasted on me, but I won't say no!" Kion cheerfully replied.

The Crow poured out three cups of coffee, and he gave Kion a look as though he might continue to tease, but instead just smiled. "We'll make a connoisseur out of you yet."

With coffee and pastry doled out, Amaranto sat on a nearby little chair. The woman sipped at her coffee, before getting up and shuffling this way and that. "Pry off those boots, da'len," she instructed.

"I won't say no to the attempt!" And really he wouldn't. He wasn't adverse to coffee or that there's better or worse sorts, it's just never been a thing he's focused on before. But given Amaranto's interest... well, that gave him more of a reason to maybe give it a shot.

"Happily." Given it wasn't the Lighthouse he wasn't just about to kick them off across the room, but there was definitely relief clear as he was pulling the boots off, plunking them down to one side.

Sulahnehn watched as she sipped again at her coffee, then tutted quietly. "Look at that," she mumbled, shaking her head. "Da'len, these are all wrong for your feet!"

With a clear task at hand, she went back to measuring a second time, comparing her notes and taking a displeased look at the human-made boots.

"Soft leather is a must for elves - especially those used to running around with bare feet. We are made for that, after all, but some situations require boots. You said you use an axe, yes? Then you are front line?"

"They're the worst," He agreed plaintively, cup of coffee held in his hands. "I feel so clumsy in them it's terrible."

Kion took a drink of his coffee with a pleased hum at the warmth and taste- he might not mind his own horrible swill, but Amaranto's coffee was definitely nice. "Aye, up front in the mess. The only reason I've been wearing boots at all to be honest."

The old woman grunted in something of agreement, but also something else - disapproval, maybe - not at Kion himself, but a general distaste of the state of things, if such could be garnered from a simple noise.

"Try the monjavina," Amaranto coaxed, slumped back and knees wide in his chair and clearly making himself quite at home. He made a dramatic sweeping gesture. "Granny's is the best you'll find in all of Treviso." Sulanehn did not look up from her notes as she quipped back, "you only say that because it is the only free monjavina you can get."

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Kion agreed readily enough, amused at the banter between the Crow and his friend. It was sweet, and helped him feel more relaxed as well, as he set his cup down to take up a slice of the sweet and bite in, expression brightening.

"Ha da da, he's right though, Mamaela! It's so good!"

The cobbler didn't answer, but it was clear from her smile and the glimmer in her eye that she was pleased with the compliment.

In time, she straightened up, hands at her back to stretch it out, and motioned that Kion could put his boots back on.

"Give me a week, da'len, I'll have you a pair of boots you won't want to lose. I cannot say you will not know you're wearing them, but it will be a far cry better than these shem things. You should get an armorer for some greaves, and maybe a steel toe on them, if you are in the front."

While she was working, Kion was quite happy to sip his coffee and nibble at the snacks on offer.

He wasn't entirely thrilled with the idea of putting his current boots back on, but knew that if he didn't Amaranto would make that disapproving face at him, so obliged however reluctantly in tugging the things back on.

"Ma nuvenin, serannas," He replied cheerfully to her instructions. "Though boots or no, you'd likely have me sniffing around your door again sooner or later."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Get in loser, we're going shopping

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject