You Really Shouldn't Be Here

[Ethan Black]

She paused. He grew curious. Maybe she had been as surprised as he had. Yet he knew there were many from all over at the city. It was a neutral port after all. That was part of the reason he was there in the first place. Until they had to leave of course. Yet he didn't want to think of the journey. Not right now.

She could see why. Astilon did not have the same charm. Although the alley was excluded. Ethan laughed and extended his arms. Gestured to their surroundings. "What? I find this alley to be very charming! As charming as a kitten, in fact." It was another joke. Poking fun at her earlier tease with a toothy grin on his face.

[Astrid Brynn]

The blonde's eyebrows raised as she looked around. She knew the man's words had been sarcasm, but it did make her wonder. Was there really any hidden gems around here that the blonde simply couldn't see? She moved to the side, moving towards one of the seemingly abandoned buildings. The windows and doors had all been boarded up.

Placing the palm of her hand against the cool surface of the stone building, Astrid closed her eyes and listened. She could hear the wind coursing through the building like blood coursing through the veins of her body. There was a gentle tremble against the stone; likely also from the wind.

"Do you ever wonder what kind of stories buildings would tell you if they were alive?"

[Ethan Black]

She looked around. His words had made her curious in some way. He watched. Faintly amused. She went to one of the abandoned buildings. Put her hand on the wall. She looked as if she were listening. For what, Ethan couldn't say. Yet he was curious now. Observant. He waited for her to speak, and she finally did. Another question. Did he ever wonder the stories buildings could tell him? It was a peculiar inquiry, to say the least.

He considered. Looked around again slowly. If buildings had eyes, what they see? If ears; what would they hear? In their current spot, he doubted it was anything good. Yet elsewhere, that could be different. Though it wasn't something he often thought of. "I have not, though I imagine these ones might not have the best ones to tell. Although these weren't always so broken down and dirty. If they remembered the beginning, then that would be interesting indeed."

[Astrid Brynn]

"Yeah," the blonde breathed. Once upon a time these buildings had been new and shiny. Still, just because they were beaten down and broken, it didn't mean they didn't have interesting stories to tell. Then, the blonde sighed. She supposed the same thing went about people in general. People were too quick to offer people one glance and then judge them.

"I think.." she began as she turned. "-that the most broken down things are the ones with the best stories. Because--" she then gestured towards the building behind her. "-they've lived to tell the tale." She shrugged lightly as she moved back towards where she'd been standing prior.

[Ethan Black]

She agreed. Then sighed. Ethan observed her for a bit before his gaze went to the building. Cracks went along the wall. Jagged and branching. Like veins or a lightening bolt. Vegetation clung to the sides too. Like a slowly growing parasite feeding off of something. Little did it know that it's host was already dying. Yes, there had to have been stories in this building. Tales it could tell. Even he could admit that much.

She turned. The most broken down things had the most stories to tell because they survived. He looked from her to the building again. Roughened and hardened from time. Much like people got. Ethan slowly nodded. "I can imagine that's true. The same goes for humans. The oldest and most haggard often have the most to say. Whether or not they decide to share what they know is a different story." His eyes went back to her and he smiled. It was more of a smirk. "But I get what you mean. And it makes sense. So point goes to you, miss."

[Astrid Brynn]

Her hands went to the scar going down from the part below her ear down the line of her jaw. It was old, so barely visible, but she could feel where the smoothness of her skin ended and the scar began. "Yeah," she agreed. She was glad too, that he'd agreed. It made her feel a little less lonely, which she supposed was ironic, given the fact that he was a complete stranger.

And she shouldn't really have put that weight on his shoulders, even if he wasn't aware.

"I'm Astrid," she finally surrendered. After all, she supposed he'd earned it. He'd humored her for a while now, though, the blonde supposed that went both ways. If he hadn't enjoyed her presence, he could have left.

[Ethan Black]

She felt along her jaw. Ethan wasn't sure what she was feeling. Bumps? Some scar he wasn't aware of? It could be anything. She agreed with him. Yet her thoughts seemed elsewhere. He had no idea where. But he wasn't about to pry. They were at ease with each other. Friendly even. That wasn't a common occurance. Especially in the place they were. Ethan wasn't about to squander it.

Astrid. The name made his eyebrows shoot up. He was surprised. He hadn't expected a name. This was just a chance occurance. Who knew if they would ever meet again? He was a pirate. He came and went as his captain saw fit. Yet here she was giving him her name. Ethan regarded her for a few moments. A smile grew on his face. Genuinely pleased. Kind even. He nodded his head. "Ethan." He gave in turn. A chuckle soon followed, and that smile turned into a smirk. He couldn't help it. "I'll admit, I wasn't expecting to ever learn your name at all." He couldn't help but be honest.

[Astrid Brynn]

She saw little harm in sharing her name. She didn't even go by her family's surname and rather opted for a more simpler 'Brynn'. Still, she couldn't really blame the man for being surprised; they were strangers, after all. Though, he looked more pleased than anything, which struck the blonde as odd.

"Ethan," she repeated with a smile of her own. "I expected something more... Secret-y," she offered, lightly amused. "Well.." she began, a gentle flush spreading over her sun licked cheeks. "I didn't exactly expect offering it either." Once again, her rash nature had caught up to her. Severn likely wouldn't have been very pleased, but ah well.

[Ethan Black]

She repeated his own name. Tested it. She ended up smiling too. She expected something more secretive. Ethan scoffed. "Secret-y? What, did you think I was named 'Mystery?' Or how about 'Question?'" It was another tease. She had made it far too easy for him. "Maybe the best mystery name is a normal one. Then you wouldn't expect it."

A red tint came to her cheeks. Ethan stared for a second or two. Was she blushing? Ethan almost thought he was imagining it. Yet it did make her look cute. He had to smirk. She hadn't expected to give her name. That made him chuckle. "Well why not do things in the spur of the moment?" He asked with a grin. "It makes things far more interesting in my own opinion."

[Astrid Brynn]

"I like Mystery a lot more," she said with a shrug to her shoulders. "And mysteries are still mysteries even if you expect them." It wasn't necessarily a secret that made something a mystery. The man was still very much a mystery to her even though she knew his name. Regardless of that name, it didn't really change all that much.

Snapping her fingers, the blonde grinned. "Exactly! That's what I keep saying too!" Though, that thought had the blonde frowning for a second. Severn didn't like her talking about being reckless all that much. In fact, he likely wouldn't agree with the fact that she'd snuck out. It was only a matter of time before he'd find out. If he hadn't already.

[Ethan Black]

She liked mystery a lot more. And expected mysteries were still mysterious. Ethan chuckled and shook his head. She did have a point. Not that he would admit anything. She was still a mystery to him. A very entertaining one. Yet one he doubted he'd be able to solve. The likelihood of them meeting again was small. He was well aware of the fact. It might be why they were both milking this encounter. Stalling with banter.

She snapped her fingers and grinned. He was exactly right, which made him laugh. Life was too short not to enjoy all one could. At least that's what he thought. But by the look of it Astrid thought the same. Although there was a short frown for a moment. He wasn't sure what it was about, but he wasn't about to ask. "If there's one thing I can say about this entire encounter, it's that you are one very peculiar girl." It came with a mischievous grin. "It's refreshing, to be honest."

[Astrid Brynn]

Pointing at herself, the blonde grinned. "That I am, Sir Ethan of the Alley," she added with a little bow to her back. She even went as far as moving her hand in a half circle before rising to her feet. She too, had to admit that this encounter was refreshing. Though, perhaps not for the obvious reasons. She was a princess and as such, used to being treated like one. It was a title she had never asked for, but been born into and therefore a title she did not want.

Thankfully, the man didn't seem to know that, despite of the two of them being from Astilon. She had to remember to thank the gods for that later.

"I would say the same for yourself, but you're obviously not a girl and there are no words that can perfectly describe what I'd call you," she continued with a tease, her green eyes mischievous in the dark as she watched him.

[Ethan Black]

With a point to herself and a grin, she agreed. Sir Ethan of the Alley. The title made him laugh and shake his head. He held a hand to his heart and mimicked the bow. "Glad you agree, Lady Astrid of the Night." Still he had not seen her full face. Yet her voice had become distinct. Ethan would be able to tell it apart now. Truly, it had been an encounter unlike any other. One that would remain in his head for years to come.

She would say the same for him, but he wasn't a girl and there were no perfect words for him. Ethan laughed again. He found himself doing it quite often in their conversation. "I'm sure a smart girl like you could think of some if you thought hard enough. Although I agree I'm one of a kind, so there will certainly be some difficulty." It was a joke. And a tease. He was sure she would be able to tell. "Now am I ever going to see that face of yours, or only a pair of green eyes?"

[Astrid Brynn]

Astrid's smile fell. She realized it only just then; he couldn't see her face. Perhaps that was why he didn't seem to know who she was. Or perhaps she was being paranoid. Could she really be blamed though? Even though she had only joined the royals at her early tens, it had still made quite the spectacle.

Her hands lifted to her hood, fingers hesitating at the rim of the fabric. In a way, she wanted to show her face. She knew she wouldn't forget this conversation, and she was already looking forward to their next meeting - if there ever would be one, but she could hear Severn's voice in her head... and for the first time in her life, she decided to ignore it.

Astrid's hold fell down upon her shoulders and she gleamed up at the man.

Sent from my SM-G901F using proboards

[Ethan Black]

Her smile fell. Ethan raised an eyebrow. Obviously something was wrong. Was she that nervous to show her face? Scarred perhaps? Or maybe afraid of recognition. Yet her voice wasn't one he had heard before. And he was sure he'd remember wit such as her. Whatever the case may be, Ethan wait. With hesitating hands, she reached her hood. Finally, she pulled it down.

He observed her. Scrutinized. Traveled the lines of her face. She could easily be called beautiful. There wasn't a mark on her face as far as he could tell. At least, none that would detract from her appearance and make her wear a hood. There was nothing he could recognize instead. So he chuckled and smirked. "Now was that so hard? And to hide such a pretty face is a shame. Although maybe that's a good thing around these parts. Still, it's good to see you, Astrid."