“They gotta make those things bigger. A carriage, bu’ twice the size. An’ with fuckin’ electricity.” Once again muttering to herself, but also sort of speaking to Kieran. They were outside an unassuming inn, guards bustling about getting the horses taken to the stables tonight and checking the safety of the area, not looking ver inconspicuous. Elara sighed, crossing her arms over her chest and pulling her hood up to try and hide her glowing freckles somewhat. “Well, while they’re doin’ all tha’, imma go down t’ the Wolf’s Maw. If yer tired ya can stay here.” With that, she turned on her heel, starting off down the dark and badly lit street.
Kieran sighed. "No, it's my job to follow you." he replied, and followed her down the street. Even if I'm tired and a little stressed because I haven't traveled much before, my job is still to travel with you and make sure you're safe. he sighed softly, and redid his bun yet again. He was beginning to think he might need to get a new tie for it, as this one was starting to wear out. That, or cut his hair.
“Sleep’s important too ya know.” Gods, she was such a hypocrite. Sleep is important, as though she actually planned on sleeping at all tonight. “Sure someone your size needs a lot o’ it.” She added with a smirk, cutting down a side-alley. She knew this city, obviously. Most of the guards thought she had been there once, briefly, to meet up with an old friend in the tavern, but she’d been here plenty. Jobs with her mother took them all over, though it was never too long before they were back home.
Kieran blinked. Please don't tell me that was an innuendo. Not again. Not… He shrugged. "I don't require too much sleep. A Thari of my size, sex, and age requires only about 4 and a half hours of sleep to function normally the following day." he replied. He only knew this because he had been forced to go with less before, and that was hell. It really was. But he could do it.
((Don’t worry child, she was literally just saying that you’re huge compared to her))
“Consecutive or added up?” Elara asked, tilting her head. Though the smirk was still there, she actually looked curious. Maybe because she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept that much in one night. Not for lack of trying, just…so many nightmares made it better to avoid sleep. Besides, thieves thrived at night. And if there was anything she was, it was a thief.
(I know. He has…bad history with ppl because he couldn't exactly say no sometimes/most times)
He hesitated. "I'm…not sure." he replied with a shrug. "All I know is four and a half hours." he said, still following her. "Which if necessary, I can get on the carriage ride tomorrow." I just might be crabby until then. Though you probably won't notice, as I learned a long time ago to hide my temper. he sighed softly.
“Well fuck dude, I can’ ju’ let ya fuckin’ follow me round instead o’ gettin’ sleep.” Elara furrowed her brows, a crease appearing between them. “Look, this should be quick enough. I jus’ gotta say hey t’ someone ‘n’ check up on somethin’, all same place. Then you’re gonna sleep.” Her own habits be damned, she refused to let others not get the sleep they needed. Maybe because of her habits, actually.
Kieran shrugged again. "If you say so. I don't need to sleep tonight. I have been alright without sleep for up to 48 hours." And was beaten for backtalk and surliness eight times during those 48 hours, but… he rubbed a hand over his left horn again, still following her. His footsteps were nearly silent on the streets, only the occasional tap a reminder of his presence.
“That don’ mean it’s healthy or good for ya.” Elara said simply, turning down another badly lit street. Her eyes scanned the shadows of the street, almost like she was expecting someone or something to appear out of nowhere. And the footsteps following them a few minutes later, just out of view, reinforced that. Though Elara’s grin was odd.
"But I've done it." he replied. He heard the footsteps, and frowned. "Your highness, there's someone following us." he said, stepping close to her as one hand went to the sword strapped at his hip. He glanced around, trying to see if he could spot the stranger following them. Or maybe not a stranger, he wasn't sure. Either way, he was going to protect Elara.
“No shit. He’s gettin’ sloppy.” Elara raised her voice slightly on her last sentence, looking unconcerned as ever. In fact, she looked amused. The footsteps came to a stop, and then a knife was hurtling out of the shadows at Elara. She sidestepped it easily, and it didn’t take a genius to realize the thrower had no intention of harming her.
“Damn you Acacius! I’m not getting sloppy, you’re just a freak!” A man stepped out of the opening between two buildings, grumbling to himself. He wasn’t as tall as Kieran, but he was built with the wiry muscle of someone good at stealth and running.
Kieran raised an eyebrow, stiffening when the knife came hurtling past. He narrowed his eyes slightly at the newcomer, but remained silent. He took a half step, placing his body partially in front of Elara, just in case of danger from this stranger. He didn't want to mess up and get sent back to Ishar.
“Sloppy sloppy sloppy.” Elara singsonged, tapping Kieran’s arm once to let him know it was fine before stepping around him. “What kinda assassin are ya if ya can’ even sneak up on your target, Declan?”
The man, Declan, rolled his eyes fondly before making his way over. “The kind that doesn’t want to kill you. Count yourself lucky. Who’s the guard?” While it was phrased like a question to her, he looked at Kieran when he asked it, looking for an answer there too.
Kieran frowned slightly, and nearly crossed his arms, before remembering that that would show the scars on his wrists, so he left his hands by his sides. He glanced at Elara, wondering if he should respond or not, after stepping out of her way, though still close enough to protect her if necessary.
Elara flicked an eyebrow up, tilting her head slightly as she waited for Kieran to respond. Though instinct had her wanting to answer for him, she knew she couldn’t do that forever. Plus, he could speak for himself. She knew that.
"Kieran." He replied after a moment, shifting slightly and crossing his arms, keeping his sleeves over his scars. Why does it matter what my name is? I'm just here to keep her highness safe, that's all. Not that she can't take care of herself, but… He sighed softly.
“Name’s Declan.” Declan said with a nod of greeting. He raised an eyebrow at Elara, before lifting the other one as well. Waggling his eyebrows at her. “Official guard or protective boyfriend?”
“Official! Gods, why’s everyone keep askin’ if we’re dating.” Elara grumbled, shooting Kieran a slightly apologetic look. “His Royal Ass decided I needed another damn guard.”
Kieran was silent. At the question of whether or not he was her boyfriend, he raised an eyebrow. "She would not be interested in a Thari, and besides that, I would not enter into a relationship with her." He said, vaguely surprised that this Declan hadn't yet asked who his owner was. Then again, this country wasn't big on slaves, so that might explain it.
“Ouch. Tha’s rough.” Elara quipped, not all that offended. “Who says I wouldn’ though?” She challenged, not insinuating anything, just challenging that assumption.
“She did date an ogre once, so a Thari’s probably a step up.” Declan mused, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "You wouldn't if you knew anything of our reputation." He replied. The Thari were known for, well…not just being slaves, but for having a tendency to be, well…a bit rough in bed. "In addition to that, you have described me as a rock. Ktherion, I believe? I don't exactly have enough emotion to be a satisfying romantic partner." Also…I don't think I'm ready. There were so many times when I wasn't allowed to say no. I had no control.
“Gyurog was a perfectly fine partner, excuse you.” Elara pointed at Declan, Kieran's comment flying right over her head. “He was always able to reach things on the shelves in the store. When they let him in.” She shrugged a shoulder, tucking her hands into her pockets. “I don’ date anymore anyway, so whether or not ya have any emotion don’ really matter.”
Declan hadn’t missed the meaning behind the comment though, raising a dark eyebrow at the Thari.
Kieran nodded, and went silent. He caught Declan's look, and raised an eyebrow slightly. What does he want? He wondered. He removed his attention from Declan to Elara, silent. His horns gleamed in the dim light, and his orange eyes were shadowed and dark. He looked like a demon or monster from an old story.
“Enough abou’ my love life-“
“Or lack of one.”
“-fuck off. As I was sayin’, enough about all that. C’mon, there ain’t no way Tia don’ know I’m here.” Elara lifted her hand in a crude gesture directed at Declan, who responded with a wink, before continuing down the street. “Hey ktherion! When’s the last time ya ate?”
Kieran followed her. "Breakfast." He replied. He was becoming more used to the fact that she expected answers to her questions, and didn't seem to care if he spoke without being spoken to. But it still caught him by surprise sometimes.
“Perfect. Tia’ll focus on feedin’ you instead o’ me.” Elara said, shaking her head with a laugh. “‘S like she knows when I ain’ eaten in a while. Then she won’t leave me alone.”
Declan fell into step with Kieran, though he left a decent distance between them. He was a fan of personal space. “How selfish of you.” He teased, grinning. “Using your guard to avoid an old woman and her soup.”
Kieran shrugged. "You should still eat, your highness. I am used to going without food. I do not know if you are or not, but you should still eat." He told her, uncrossing his arms as he walked.
“Eh, long as I get somethin’ t’ eat e’ry once in a while, ‘m fine.” Elara said dismissively, shrugging a shoulder. “Ya need t’ eat more’n just breakfast.”
“She says, as though she’s any better.” Declan muttered, rolling his eyes at her in Kieran’s direction.
Kieran shrugged. "Your highness, you are going to eat." He replied to Elara. "It is my job to keep you safe and healthy. Eating is healthy." He told her, orange eyes flickering around, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious.
Elara opened her mouth to continue arguing, before pausing. After a moment of thought, her eyes lit up with a wicked spark as she turned, walking backwards to face him. “Fine. Bu’ only if you do too.” She said, raising a pale eyebrow at the Thari.
Kieran nodded. "Fine." He agreed. He would make sure that Elara ate. It was his job to. Well, maybe not to make her eat, but to make sure that she was alright. And he would rather her not starve to death. That would mess up his plans.
