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It is always pleasant to meet a stranger who isn't hostile. He relishes the moments of conversation, the sound of another voice even with strange accents and words that he used to struggle to understand. Now it is easier, his confidence in the language good enough to carry on most easy conversations.
"Where are you from?"
Such an innocent question. It is not even an uncommon one to be asked. Even so he feels winded, like an elephant's trunk is squeezing his ribs. His breath releases explosively from his nostrils and for a moment his eyes shut, ear laying back against his head. He almost misses her answer as he struggles to push the agony of his estrangement down.
The pressure eases and with a concerted effort he forces suddenly tense muscles to relax. His ears lift, slowly, to focus on her, and his odd eyes open, a hint of embarrasment flitting through his expression. Even so many months later it was hard to think of his
"I am from Dorobo. It is far from here." He's proud of himself. His voice doesn't crack over the word, and he even manages to push his tone into the range of casually pleasant.
"What is 'kelpie'?" The word rolls off his tongue, completely unusual to him. He rolls the syllables in his head, trying to get used to the collection of sounds. 'Siren' is also unfamiliar, though he thinks he has heard it before. Just... not the way she seems to say it. The question perhaps follows too closely on the heels of his answer to her question, but he hopes that it will encourage her to talk about herself. Not only will it sate his curiosity but perhaps it will deflect her attention from his slip of composure. Perhaps she will have the tact to overlook it. He can hope.
"Talk."
@Syrena
Imani
