Flicker of Judgment
Chapter 44
Speaking with your mouth full
a/n: Flash update, I had like… thirty minutes online, so I had to rush. Sorry, I'll have more time tomorrow.
He took her to a Malkuthite establishment, a place so shrouded in blue that it bordered on chauvinistic. Or rather… desperate. It was as if by hue alone the owner of the place could muffle the blistering heat outside.
But it was Malkuthite, and that set her hackles on the rise. She being a Kimlascan (royalty no less) her grip on his hand tightened, and he smiled at that. He half turned to flash her a reassuring glance, then they pressed right along.
Or rather, he went forward, nearly dragging her behind.
It was an odd place. Outside and inside were marked only by canvas, the sun wise walls (east and west) were redoubled, the cloth thicker and darker. Tucked in the place where poles tangled and were bound by rope hung pans and pots, all dripping. A few secluded spans also had pots hanging from them, letting out a sedate drizzle, the "door" (a tent flap), also sported a massive pot. Going through it had given her an impromptu shower… well not really, that was giving the leak too much credit, but the surprise had set her gaze to looking up and wondering at the insanity of this place.
Wending past a puddle, Asch, in Luke's clothes, set her at a small round table away from the crowds and away from the pots. There were no chairs to pull out here, rather the "chairs" were padded posts that had been pounded into the dryer spots in the ground. Once sure she was situated he left her a little, picking his way past customers and the like to find the owner of this... place.
Alone, she looked about; blue was the theme not only of the walls but of the garb of those about her. Yes, while Malkuth's national colors were blue and silver, it seemed so odd to see the hues out in such force. But then, Kimlascan side, she'd been awash in familiar red and gold, so perhaps she had no right to complain.
She was wondering as to why color would be so important to these… commoners, when she spied a familiar flash of red on the return. Almost pinned down with an odd overlarge plate speckled with fruit, greens, and the like... (all generously wetted, droplets clung from both fruit and leafy greens in every which way imaginable) Asch was picking his way back to her.
Clearly this was going to be lunch.
Amused at the site of a God General so encumbered, she stood without knowing why. But her feet were wiser than the rest of her (or perhaps her heart was simply too tender) for to her own surprise she was moving towards him.
He started, realizing that she was coming towards him, opened his mouth to protest. But she simply ignored his babble and took the other half of the plate. Together, with minimal confusion as to who was holding what side and the like, they carried their meal to the table.
Once seated, the Bloody raised an eyebrow, but managed a curt "thanks" around his blush.
Grinning, not knowing why, Natalia shrugged at his awkward gratitude. The others, even Jade Curtiss, had found it odd, her eagerness to help. Luke had exploited it shamelessly from time to time –save when cooking was involved- having known her best.
Asch would learn, or he wouldn't. She almost hoped he wouldn't, she'd not degrade the man by saying this aloud but… He was a touch… cute… when he blushed like that. Face a near match for his red hair.
"When I was little I liked to help about the castle, it used to set Father off on such spectacular rows."
"I know."
Curious how he would know, but she didn't doubt him. Face slowly returning to its natural pallor, Asch snapped up a slice of bright orange melon. Nibbling it, savoring its chilled watery texture, he nipped with only her silence to accompany him for a while.
"Try some, you'll like it." The Bloody encouraged, when she seemed too shy to take some up for her own.
She protested, a childish thing, but route was hard to shake. "But… there aren't any forks or knives or…"
"You eat it with your hands. That's the civilized way to do things amongst the common." He took a deeper bite, the crisp fruit crunched under the assault. Then mouth full, tried to talk. "S' 'eally 'ood…"
Nervous, Natalia looked about. He wasn't the only one eating with his hands, and if it was the thing to do… Well, she'd try it.
Picking up a chilled bit of green fruit, or so the texture told it to be fruit, she'd never seen it's like before, she nibbled at the slice as he had. It was sweet, a touch tangy, and her genteel nip became a rather uncivilized bite after she'd had some time to take in the taste.
Asch of course started chuckling, and it was her turn to blush. She considered saying something about barbarians speaking with their mouths full, but that wasn't important. What was important was… Well the moment. Snapping up a piece of fruit he'd clearly been eyeing, she ate it before his startled eyes. His shock faded, and he laughed louder, of course.
Perhaps he found mirth in her bit of ruthlessness.
With a man as complicated as the Bloody, it was hard to discern the reasons behind his moods.
But the sound of his laughter was rather pleasing to the ear. Despite his grim, dour, slant, he knew how to laugh, and did it very well.
Laughs faded quickly as she took yet another slice of the fruit he liked best, a scowl (twitchy, but still it was a scowl) stole over his features.
"Stop hogging all the honeighduwe, Natal." He whined, sounding a bit like Luke just then. He reached out and failed to save a scrap of the fruit Natalia had all but claimed for herself. There were some benefits to being fast, and hours of archery had honed the reactions of her hands to a razor edge. He didn't have a prayer, not one at all.
She considered sharing, for a moment, even as she horded the last two slices, fingers splayed over them, whole posture screaming mine, in large capital fonic symbols and the like. He looked so pathetic, eyeing her take like a puppy being denied his favorite shoe to tear into.
She considered sharing, really she did, but after a moment decided against it.
Fair was fair after all. If he couldn't keep his mouth closed while he ate she was under no obligation to share. No matter how pathetic he tried to make himself look.
