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Post by Galadareth on May 4, 2022 23:47:57 GMT
They had until midday to see Lana. Part of Kestra wanted to go back to bed and enjoy the quiet morning of the Inn. She didn't think the Inn had a lot of people staying there. She watched him get ready for the day, sensing a kind of distance from him. She wasn't sure if she should prod him or not.
"We can get going if you'd like to. Go find some breakfast, maybe visit a few shops," she suggested.
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Post by Jax Nova on May 6, 2022 1:42:27 GMT
Duinn looked back, he could hear something different in her voice. Then again... maybe he was the one that was different. He knew the tension between them had eased, but it had never gone back to what it had been that first day. He turned around to look at her for a moment before going back and sitting down on the bed. For a moment he sat in silence until at last he spoke up.
“I- I know I’ve been... distant lately.” He sighed. “I don’t mean to be.”
He looked up at her for the first time since sitting on the bed. “We don’t have to go... if you don’t want to.”
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Post by Galadareth on May 11, 2022 23:32:58 GMT
Kestra sighed. "I know it's been a whirlwind of a few days, especially with how new a lot of these experiences are for you. I guess that excitement kind of wore off..." She took a deep breath. "It's taken a lot to get used to, I get that. And if you need time, I can give it to you but I do like you, Duinn." She kind of trailed off and looked up at him. "More than I've liked anyone in a long time."
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Post by Jax Nova on May 12, 2022 18:25:44 GMT
With her words, he felt almost lighter, somehow. It was nice to hear her say it, at least. He offered a sincere smile, daring to reach over and take her hand in his. “I like you too... a lot.” He shrugged. “I guess that’s why I’ve been so out of sorts. I was worried I might have messed that up. Messed us up.” There was a peaceful moment of silence, and for once Duinn wasn’t fretting over what Kestra might be thinking. He was simply glad to be there with her. He kicked his boots back off and pulled his legs up on the bed, looking over at her as he nudged her shoulder playfully with his own. “One of these days we’ll have to get back to you giving me sword fighting lessons.”
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Post by Galadareth on Jun 5, 2022 20:53:48 GMT
Kestra smiled at him and squeeze his hand in hers, glad he was finally relaxing again. When he nudged her shoulder, she leaned her head into his, and took a deep breath. “Sword fighting lessons indeed.” She got a far off look on her face as she remembered the last lesson that ended with one of the best kisses of her life. She cleared her throat and came to. “I would be very interested in that.” She smiled.
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Post by Jax Nova on Jun 7, 2022 2:44:54 GMT
Duinn noted the look on her face, his own mind unable to focus on the way that lesson had ended. He guessed, maybe, she was thinking about the same thing. At least he hoped she was. He smiled over at her as she replied. “I would too,” he admitted. “I’d definitely be interested.” He gave a shrug, not wanting to be too forward so he added. “I mean, I’ve got a lot to learn still. If we’re going to be getting captured and all that... I should know my way around a blade a bit better.”
He looked over at her allowing his eyes to linger over her features for a moment before they snapped back to their hands that remained clasped. He took a deep breath and looked back up. “So, what do you think we should do with our morning? We don’t have to meet Lana until noon.”
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Post by Galadareth on Jul 26, 2022 23:36:38 GMT
Kestra took a deep breath and looked around their tiny room. "What to do with a morning? What if we took to the shops? There may be something to find there, food or odd little trinkets to look at. You never know what the traders are going to bring through this town. Or we could stop in the tavern for some tea to start the morning off right." She looked up at him. "What do you think?" she gave him a smile and a little nudge as she got to her feet and reached her hands out to pull him up.
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Post by Jax Nova on Aug 9, 2022 2:42:14 GMT
(Hey, sorry for my long absence. Life has been… complicated, but the truth is I must have missed the e-mail notification of your reply. I honestly thought I was still waiting on your next response. 🤦♂️)
Duinn considered the options with a half shrug. All of them sounded like a decent enough way to spend the morning. He gave a smile as she nudged him, taking her hand that she offered and getting up out of the bed. “Maybe a good compromise?” He suggested in an obviously teasing voice. “We could stop by the tavern for some tea to go, and then browse the market while we drink it.” He gave a smile, opening the door for her as they approached.
As they headed out of the room and made their way to the front door of the inn, a small but rowdy crowd could be seen in the back corner. Once Out the front door, the streets were alive with citizens roaming about. The tavern wasn’t far, and neither were the markets. He paused just outside, looking over to Kestra, letting her choose their direction.
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Post by Galadareth on Apr 26, 2023 23:41:40 GMT
(Hi! I should be apologizing this time. I just got swept away with life and didn't come back to respond. I hope everything is well on your end!)
Kestra gave him a smile as she pulled him upward and walked with him outside. She looped her arm with his and fell in step with him. She glanced lazily at the crowd in the corner of the inn and continued on, not giving them much thought. Outside, she looked up and down the street. Remembering his compromise of tea to-go and some light shopping, she headed in the way of the tavern, holding his arm tightly with her grip, almost steering him alongside her. She loved tea more than she cared to admit out loud--especially tea that she didn't make herself. She could never get the brewing time right.
The tavern was alive with the breakfast crowd. Workers in their work clothes gearing up for the start of the day, older couples looking for some sustenance after being awake for hours already, and young adolescents falling asleep over their eggs, clearly still awake from the night before.
At the bar, Kestra waited until the barman approached, wiping out a glass with a wrn out rag, ordered one tea to go and two bread rolls for a breakfast snack, and then turned to Duinn for his drink request.
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Post by Jax Nova on Apr 27, 2023 15:21:19 GMT
(Hey! So good to hear from you! I understand, life gets crazy. Hope it’s all good, though. Things here are about the same, if I’m being honest. Lol )
Duinn fell in step along side her, happily locking arms and enjoying the morning. It seemed like a new day had brought a fresh perspective in his mind. As they made their way through the crowd, he glanced across all the patrons. It was a simple, busy, morning, with folks preparing for their day.
As they walked up to the counter, he let Kestra order first, then he ordered himself a black coffee. The barman gave a nod, then turned to gather their order. Duinn fingered through his coins with one hand, still wrapping his other arm around Kestra’s grip. He slid the coins across the table just as the barman came back with the bread rolls in a small paper sack. He moved to serve another customer, then returned to their coffee and tea.
Duinn grabbed the food and waited for his drink. Once they both had their drinks they made out towards the exit. “So, what shops would you like to look at first?” He asked, glancing around at the town as they stepped outside.
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Post by Galadareth on Apr 27, 2023 22:02:14 GMT
(I’m sorry to hear that! I remember you were going through some stuff last time.)
Kestra took a long sip from her tea. It was excellent, as all tea was that wasn’t made by her. She looked around when they stepped outside, took a large bite of her bread and took in the area around them. What she really needed was a blacksmith. “I’m out of mineral oil for my sword. I should pick up some while I’m here. Mind a trip to the blacksmith?” she asked Duinn, chewing up her bread as she spoke.
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Post by Jax Nova on Apr 29, 2023 3:07:36 GMT
(Yeah, not a lot has changed there. Glad to know things are going well for you, though! ) Duinn gave a nod of agreement. “Not at all.” He took in a quick glance of the shops, taking a guess at where the thought the blacksmith might reside. “Any idea where we’re going?” He asked with a little bit of a chuckle as they walked. He had no clue where the local blacksmith was. It would do him good to peruse a blacksmith’s shop. He couldn’t afford better weapons and gear yet, but it would give him an idea of what to work towards for the future. He munched on the bread as they walked, sipping on the coffee from time to time out of the paper cup. It was rather ingenious, he thought, making disposable cups out of paper. He’d never seen one of those before.
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Post by Galadareth on May 3, 2023 23:48:08 GMT
( I really hope it gets better! I've thought about you since we spoke about it and I do hope everything works out for you.)
"No clue at all!" She laughed a little, walking along with him, holding his arm in one hand, and multi-gripping her tea with her thumb and first two fingers and bread roll with the other two, taking a bite of bread every now and then. "I'd say it's probably near the edge of town with all the heat and the ever-present danger of burning the town down by accident."
Sure enough, along the edge of town, she hear the ever-familiar ringing sound of a hammer on metal. The shop had a hut with an outdoor area attached. A forge with an anvil and workbench were nearby, as well as tools hanging neatly where they go. The fire was blazing hot and the area around the hut seems several degrees warmer.
The blacksmith was hard at work, covered in soot and sweat. He was older, grizzled, with hair tied back in a bun at the back of his head. His clothes were charred in places, his forearms exposed and covered in burn marks and scars from years of working the fires and metal. In the corner of his shop, stood a hesitant young apprentice. His clothes still white in places, his apron (a little too large for him) still brand new. He was earnestly watching his master work the metal, leaning in and standing back when his master did. They barely noticed when Duinn and Kestra approached until Kestra swallowed the last of her bread and cleared her throat.
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Post by Jax Nova on May 6, 2023 4:52:28 GMT
(I certainly appreciate the well-wishes. Here’s hoping things even out. ) “Sounds like a good place to start,” Duinn agreed, veering off in that direction as they passed the other shops and buildings. They walked slow, taking in the few sites the location had to offer. Shops and locals busying themselves with their daily duties. At length, they ran upon the blacksmith off on the edge of town just as Kestra had suspected. Duinn watched in amazement. He had never understood how they were so masterful with the folding and molding of metal. It always impressed him. He honestly hadn’t even noticed that the blacksmith hadn’t noticed them until Kestra cleared her throat. He looked up just as the blacksmith and his apprentice did. “Aye? You needing a blacksmith’s hammer, are ya?” The grizzled old man asked once he looked up from his work. “What exactly d’ya need?”
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