The breath that passed from you to me

[avagnarbond]

[He had always found the culture in Eorzea very baffling. From the people to just the terrain. It was all very different from what he grew up. It was fascinating to some extent, but mildly stressful. Still... he enjoyed traveling quite a bit. It would be a tad easier if it didn't require having to constantly interact with people of such unfamiliar customs though.

His travels had taken him to an area known as La Noscea. The beaches were actually quite gorgeous and he was particularly taken by the water. Eremes considers trying to find a means to travel on it with a small boat next time.

He was currently hunting though. With how long he spends away from Kugane; it wasn't feasible to just always eat food that was offered at restaurants and the what have you. And he's always been more partial towards preparing his own food. It's why he's currently got his bow out and his eyes trained on a bison. His concentration on what he's doing doesn't help him with how he struggles to react to things to his right though. He hasn't noticed the raptor slowly approaching him from his blind side at all.

His focus is completely trained on his target.]

Comments

[the_tailor]

[He's noticed that, and it intrigues him. Lance won't lie--sometimes Au Ra do intimidate them with their sheer size. For some reason, even more so than Roegadyn. But this guy? His quiet personality makes him easier to connect to, even if said personality is completely at odds with Lance's brash one.

Lance gathers the hides up in his arms, giving him a nod.]

Grab the meat and follow me, then! I've got a new recipe I've been meaning to try, and I think you'll like it.

[avagnarbond]

[He hefts up the large chunks of meat. Eremes will definitely need to get himself cleaned after transporting them; but he expected that he would need one when he was butchering them before.]

I am easy to please, so I'm sure that wouldn't be false.

[the_tailor]

I'll keep that in mind.

[He gives Eremes a wink as they begin to walk, Lance leading them closer to the shore. Ever since he left his home to start his life as an adventurer, his old room had been given to a cousin of his. Which, of course, made sense considering the size of the family and how cramped things could get. He was lucky enough to have a side place to stay, however, a hut that used to be used by the family for storage.]

...I just realized, we never did properly introduce ourselves to each other, did we? The name's Lance.

[avagnarbond]

[Why did Lance wink at him...? The only times people have done that are usually people flirting with him at the tea ho-oh. Eremes stops walking pretty abruptly and his face has gone quite red.] I-I [He's so embarrassed. Did the other think he meant in that way???]

I-I I-It's Eremes. E-Eremes Avagnar.

[At least he managed to tell the other his name.]

[the_tailor]

[By the twelve... How can a huge guy like this be so shy and cute? He smiles brightly.]

It's been a pleasure to have met you, Eremes. And there's no need to be nervous around me! I'm harmless. Unless you're that raptor who attacked you.

[avagnarbond]

[He shakes his head a little.]

It isn't you. I. I am quite shy around people. It isn't anything you've done or said to cause it.

[ He starts walking to catch up with the other.] Your aim is very good. I don't think claiming to be harmless is an accurate description given that.

[the_tailor]

It's not a bad trait.

[They reach the hut after a little while, and he lets out a sigh of relief as he dumps the pelts into a bin near the entrance. He'll take care of that later.]

Correction, then. Harmless unless you're attempting to hurt me or anyone who doesn't deserve it.

[avagnarbond]

It can be troublesome...

[And he hates the feeling of being troublesome to others. He already must be much more cautious given his shortcomings. Lance had to save him already and it reminds him he must be more attentive.]

I should have been more aware of my surroundings.

[the_tailor]

[Hey, it happens. Lance may or may not have gotten slightly chewed on by several monsters here and there due to not paying close enough attention. It'd been mostly in the earlier days of his adventuring, before he'd come to be more aware of his surroundings, but still.]

First, the two of us should take a moment to bathe. There's a pretty big river just to the west of here. Bath time, then I can start cooking.

[avagnarbond]

[Eremes usually travels with his sister and she always make sure to keep watch of anything from his blindside. She was so very good to him. He had gotten better at reacting, but it can be a struggle.]

Ah yes. It wouldn't be particularly good hygiene.

[He already feels gross and would have excused himself otherwise. Being covered in blood and other things is just not appealing.]

[the_tailor]

No, and I'd rather keep my little hut nice and clean and guts free, thank you very much.

[He goes inside momentarily, though, to pack some clean clothes in a bag. Once he returns, he gestures for the Au Ra to follow him as he makes his way towards the river in question. The ocean is a little closer, but fresh water is much better to bathe in. And obviously, wash clothes in.]

[avagnarbond]

[After making sure that the meat won't attract predators; Eremes follows the other to the river.

if there's one thing he isn't surprisingly shy about; it's apparently stripping down. He starts undressing once they arrive at the river. His outfit wasn't particularly covering in the first place. He was wearing a tribal chest wrap and wore a loincloth underneath. He kept the loincloth and his sandals on. Eremes had quite a few scars that covered his body. There's some very large ones on his right arm and side.]

[the_tailor]

[Lance does his best not to openly stare. Of course, it isn't as if Eremes isn't a sight to behold. He's extremely easy on the eyes. But Lance has been raised well enough to not openly leer at every hot person he sees.

He does sneak a few glances, though, as he strips down to his own underthings and starts to wash himself in the river.]

[avagnarbond]

[Eremes brushes his braids out with his fingers before getting into the water. They'll be ruined anyways and he'll have to rebraid them after cleaning up. The male Au ra seems content with just sitting in the river for a little bit in just the loincloth and the many jewelry that he wears.

He feels a lot better now that he's cleaned off blood and sweat from earlier.]

[the_tailor]

[Eremes isn't the only one who's enjoying his time in the river. Lance stretches out, enjoying the feel of the cool water on his skin. He's a water child at heart, always has been, feeling at home whenever he gets a chance like this.]

Sometimes I just come here and swim all day. The ocean, too.

[avagnarbond]

[Eremes eventually finishes cleaning up and climbs out of the water to stretch out on dry land. He enjoys the water, but he much prefers warmer temperatures.]

I prefer the water from hot springs, but I don't handle the cold particularly well.

[the_tailor]

[He lingers a little longer in the water, but eventually gets up to do the same. He'll get up and wash his clothes in a little bit.]

Neither do I. Ishgard was really, really hard to be in. Hot springs, though--I love 'em. There's one here in La Noscea, actually.

[avagnarbond]

I wouldn't know anything about Ishgard. I haven't traveled to that area before. Where I grew up; the conditions could be harsh and unforgiving and the nights could get very cold. The warmth of the sun is preferable.

[Eremes is much like a lizard sunbathing right now.]

[the_tailor]

Where did you grow up, if I might ask?

[Sunbathing is good. Lance does it a lot himself, which is partially why he has such a healthy tan.]

[avagnarbond]

[How Eremes manages to stay so pale is pretty impressive.

He sits up and seems to be thinking over Lance's words.] Azim Steppes. [A pause. He seems kind of troubled though. I guess maybe I can't say i grew up there. I lived most of my life in Kugane.

[the_tailor]

Azim Steppes... That's in Doma, yes? I've heard so many things about Kugane, though! It's supposed to be a completely gorgeous city.

[One day he'll go there....one day.]

[avagnarbond]

Yes. Near Yanxia if you know where that is. [There's a certain melancholy tone. He misses the Steppes to some extent, but he'd never return to them. He wasn't sure he'd be safe going back.]

It is quite gorgeous. I could not imagine living anywhere else now that I've lived there for so long. Although, there aren't many places that are safe to live in Doma, but my father has many great stories when before he left to the Steppes.

[the_tailor]

Yanxia... I think. I've seen it on a map before a few times, but it was probably a while ago.

[Lance eventually turns on his side to look at him properly.]

You should go back and see it sometime, then. Even if not to stay... It might bring some comfort.

[avagnarbond]

[Eremes glances at him, but looks away.]

I wouldn't be welcomed, so it's in my best interest that I don't return.

[the_tailor]

Wouldn't be welcomed? What do you mean?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Uh, if it's too personal, you don't have to tell me.

[avagnarbond]

There's a tribe in particular that would kill me if they figured out my identity.

[He says it easily.]

I'm sure the likeliness is slim, but I'd prefer not to. [The remnants of their escape lingers heavily in the back of his mind. He was young and small and was shown absolutely no mercy when his family fled.]