"Come on now... Come on! Just wanted a conversation with ya, Nin..." the woman who went past me not too long ago complains. Bringing myself to a halt, I raise a hand slightly to catch her attention. She looks me over quite quickly and turns the way she came, realisation all over her face.

"If it's not too much trouble, I can pass on whatever information you have to him?" I offer, and her expression tightens up with an evident decline. Admittedly, her reaction is confusing to me. She wants to speak to Nin-kischu, but Nin-kischu is quite the private individual. Outside of Rianta-chira, he confides in no one. Not to my limited knowledge, anyway.

"Dammit," she swears with the sound of a mock spit.

"It will be best if you follow me. I need to be somewhere, but I can explain the situation in the meantime?" I change my offer to and she shakes her head. Taking her continued walking as a sign of acceptance anyway, I keep my gaze on her.

"Can't I just wait for Nin to be done?" the woman questions and I shake my head.

"Nin-kischu is extremely private. Whatever he wants to do in our temporary accommodation, it will be done first. Until the issue is dealt with, any interactions with him are out of hand." I explain, a bit of sadness to my words. While I understand Nin-kischu has a right to his privacy... I just want someone to talk to. I've been alone for too long and there's just something about him that makes me feel welcome. Oddly enough, I'd call the feeling magical.

"This a common problem, then, Moody?" she asks back, and my eyes wince at her degree of perception. Is my bother really that obvious? I thought I largely had my 'stiff upper lip' sorted by now...

The woman laughs and I become all too aware of the warmth in my face.

"I-I cannot really say. All I know is that he prefers solitude whenever he is getting unchanged. Often locking himself away for that very purpose. The only one ever allowed close to him in such moments is Rianta-chira. She's the only one he seems to want around him at those times."

"The aelenvar?" she asks, brow cocked in an arch, a smirk on her lips.

"That is what she is, I believe, yes. Her real name is Rose, but I-"

The woman huffs another laugh, putting an end to my over-answering, "And here I was under the impression that Nin wasn't all that interested in her. But, oh, look at him! Trusting her enough to see him all stripped down."

Mentally shaking her words aside, I try to get us back to my original offer as it's not my place to comment, "So, the information you wanted to tell him? You've yet to decline my offer."

For once, I find myself to be the one lacking red cheeks, "All... All I wanted to do was ask if he was free to do something later. T-Together, you know?"

"You wish to court him?" I surprise myself with as I never thought myself capable of such bluntness. Her cheeks grow so red I find mine flushing in response. If only a little.

"I just want to know him a little better is all..." she mutters, hand messing up her brown-stained blonde hair. Turning away to look out of a window as she nervously mutters away, I find myself frowning. Over such an odd thing, too. Here it is, again.

Someone with an interest in being close to Nin-kischu... Is Rianta-chira being that possessive of him an encourager for those around him? Or is it all... Him? The feeling he gives off, that desire he seems to plant in women.

I mean, it's only three people I know of, but-

"What leads you to want to befriend him?" I practically force out to get my mind away from such ramblings.

"Well... I am hoping for a little, just a little, more than befriending him. But, if you must know... I like feeling small and he does that. He does it really well." she explains, her smirk becoming more of a little girl's cheery anxiety. I smile at the reminder of such a sweet trait.

"He certainly seems able to make anyone feel small." I concur, thinking of how I first found and, in turn, mistook him. All that magic overflowing from his system and the size of his body. Were it not for the reminder of what a real, all-powerful lord looked like in Lord Brewbrt. I'd still be falling for it.

Yet, even with Nin-kischu's lack of arcane refinement, he still has his physical imposition.

So many times I have had to look up to get to as close to full eye contact. I think earlier, when he was telling us his thoughts about the kimonos I made, that's been the only time I've had to look down a little. The closer I get to him when he stands, the more I must crane back to see. I have considered maybe just keeping my distance when talking to him... But that feels quite rude, so I never followed through with it.

"I mean... I understand if it might seem a little hollow. But, honestly, it can't be anymore hollow than how that aelenvar ended up liking him, no? All it takes with their flowery kind is some big magic- Oooooh! Magic-y...!" she questions, going over topics I'd rather keep my hands clean of. Yet, I still feel myself compelled to at least say something. Though, every second it takes me to think of a response... I feel jittier with each tick of it going by.

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"There's nothing wrong with having an interest in someone because of a trait beyond their control. However, I think... Just... Only get close to them if you actually do wish to care for them?" I tell this woman as my thoughts abruptly shift to my homeland. I was in this situation, once destined to be married off to a powerful family, like my own. I remember one name clearly to this day, if only for the problems that occurred when its family head came to visit. The Lord Burspharosa.

An image of Mother flashes before me. It's not uncommon for the daughters of nobles to marry purely for political reasons. Although Mother loves me like I do her, she did make a point of trying to make me understand the practicality of reality. Yet, it was all but one step to why I am here and not back home...

We find ourselves walking out to the main entrance chamber, "Well, here's to hoping Nin is free, then. And we can actually do all that!"

The woman waves and starts to leave and I frown, my mouth parting slightly.

"So, should I tell him you want to spend some time with him at some point?"

"No... I got something else planned now," the woman answers, a look and grin on her face that leaves me feeling daunted. I find myself with no confidence in regards to it. She abruptly leaves, a jokester's evil chuckle about her.

Blinking and shaking my head, I return to my prior task and its set of thoughts. I want to show my outfit off to Lord Brewbrt and see what he thinks about it. He should find a lot to like about it. What, with his involvement with Mother and his knowledge of my homeland?

I mean, I hope he does say he likes it. I've put a lot of effort into my outfit and to hear him say he doesn't like it will be quite frustrating. I'm not particularly qualified to remark about the man. But, with how much he has helped me and Mother, I feel a strong kinship with him, regardless. I owe him too much to be dismissive of his thoughts.

And... Maybe this time, I'd be able to hear what is outright preferred without having to worry about Rianta-chira? Nin-kischu's tongue was held back without a doubt when he judged is. While I understand Rianta-chira's feelings... There are times I want to be seen as the better of all those I am being compared to.

Yet, while I would be happy to receive such a compliment. Easily made envy makes me fear such praise. I am not sure if I can handle such targeting. While Rianta-chira does not strike me as cruel or malicious, she's surprisingly kind and open with me on most topics. But, once -he- becomes involved... She changes. It's like I am talking to a whole new person. Or, rather, maybe it just exaggerates her usual behaviours.

A smile forms on my lips, somehow, "I wonder how that would go, actually. Spending so much time with her and her insistences seems to be having the opposite effect."

I giggle out the humour I find in my quiet commentary. For all of her attempts to keep me away from him, all it has done is make me think of Nin-kischu more. Yet, I cannot say if there's anything romantic about this attraction. It all seems like it is simply a case of 'think about it enough and that is all you will think about,' and all the problems it entails. My upbringing and recent years, however, has given me an appreciation of what Nin-kischu can offer me.

The desire for safety and a companion in long travels...

I shake my head and try to clear my thoughts as I open yet another door. I know it is often said that being around those who are vigorously interested in a topic will get you invested in it, too. But, Nin-kischu simply being a good friend will do me well for now. A good friend that looks out for me in this strange and largely unfamiliar land. In time, if he is still with me when we go back to my home, I can repay the favour and guide him.

Though, I would have to get to such a point before I even see that-

"Well, look at you!" Lord Brewbrt calls out with a smile as I finally find him, or, rather, he finds me. Clearing my thoughts, I focus on that wide smile and the eyes that shine with nothing but evident pride. My face burns so red it turns white hot.

"D-Do you like it...?" I rather stupidly ask.

"Like it? No. No, I love it almost as much as my memories of adventuring," he laughs out, his hands landing on my shoulders and shaking them. Keeping myself upright, a shaking, embarrassed smile from me matches the width of his. His hands fiddle with my outfit a little, and I notice a few creases.

"Thank you!" I squeak louder than I need to as he steps back to take in the full view. His finger spins and I emulate the movement with my whole body. My feet cross over and I bring my fingers together, tightening them to the sound of stretching gloves.

"So this is what you have been working on?" he asks through a series of nods. His eyes and gestures shift their focus towards the various animals and plants I have had printed on it.

"Yes, I also made Rianta-chira one. But she is being held back because of something important." I explain, and the elderly lord nods.

"Well, I hope it won't take too long. I wouldn't actually mind seeing an aelenvari petal's take on a kimono. Even if I have some idea of it already," he lets out genuinely, a chuckle ending his sentence.

"You remember what they are called?" I ask, wide-eyed slightly at the fact he remembers such a thing about my home. It must've been decades since he last came to Eusorochii. And, in such a small fraction of that time, I've already forgotten so much about my home...

"Of course, my time in Eusorochii was very memorable," he says, "You know, it has been said that the Land of the Lightning Mountain is the cousin land of the one of Wind?"

"I have not, no. This isn't a recent thing, is it? I've been out of the loop..." I try to laugh out, but it only makes me miserable.

"No, no. It's quite an old saying though. I have to believe it's more politically driven than anything," he answers, his mind going to a place I cannot fathom.

"Perhaps it is because of a necessary need for cooperation? Large portions of Eusorochii are known to fall into the All-Coast Sea. Eventually washing up on the southern coast of Jherikra. I briefly stayed within the general area of the colonies." I ponder and he nods, if only a little.

"Perhaps, but unlike the two poles so close and so far from each other. Our two peoples are the same in one regard." Lord Brewbrt comments and I am left a little blank on the concept.

"So does that mean the lands of Fire and Water are the same?" I ask, wondering if that means there's a connection between the two left over lands.

"No... By the gods no, they are far too different." he skirts around with.

"Ah, ok." is all I can think to say.

"Hm, is that a conductor plant?" he then asks, shifting the topic to something else entirely. Following his finger's direction, I find the branch-like plant he is pointing to. One on my sleeves.

Shaking my head within it, I drop the topic he had, "Yes, it is, and over here we have..."