and remember, no matter where you go, there you are

[patration]

Spring had started to fall upon Eastern Wu again, rain showers washing away the dark soot of war, weighing down clouds of smoke until they rinsed away from the banks. In its wake, grass grew tall again, stretching toward the sky above, pleasant underneath Zhuge's feet as he walked toward Zhou Yu's land, no longer a stranger. When the soft whistle

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[patration]

Dark brown eyes briefly looked over toward the new bird swooping in, Zhuge brushing a hand off his shoulder, under his pigeons settled more readily on his person- one on each shoulder, and another on the headdress. To others, it probably looked comical. To Zhuge, it was the only way he could properly look after them. The birds were trained to be docile, readily handled by people, even strangers, in case the chancellor didn't have the opportunity to introduce the recipients to his feathered friends first. On a practical level, Zhuge already had enough reason to protect them. But he had come to care for them as well, as he did any of his animals, as companions rather than servants or even pets.

Politely, however, he did not gaze at the bird for long, turning back to the red-haired woman with a smile. She held herself with a certain amount of grace, and even more secrecy, as though she were standing just behind a heavy veil. Not with enough purpose to be an enemy spy, as far as Zhuge could tell, but still a person to be watched, as most people were.

"An island," he repeated with a raised eyebrow, his tone that of someone remarking on the weather, rather than on a shift in reality. Rubbing his beard with some interest, he closed his eyes, listening for water in the distance. Taking a deep breath of air. He could smell the ocean, far closer than it'd ever been in Hebei. "Was I brought here by boat?"

[poison_lipstick]

David fluffed his wings a little, preening at the man's scrutiny, which Saffron ignored. "No, not by boat," she replied with a shake of her head. "Magic, I suppose you could say. Its source is a mystery, to all of us living here."

[patration]

Magic. Sorcery, he guessed by her tone, something more active than the miracles and luck which struck most people at some point in their lives. Zhuge had never believed much in sorcery, didn't think that people could harness powers that they did not fully understand. Everything on his end had always been analytical, careful, leaving luck untouched and merely trying his best to work with the skills he had.

His brows raised lightly and his gaze lowered.

"Magic is not an answer I expected to hear," he confessed in a lightly playful tone. "But even magic can be overcome if one is willing to put in the effort. Perhaps, even if a boat did not bring me here, I might be able to find one that can take me back? I have... a life that I would very much like to return to, after a long stay away."

[poison_lipstick]

"I'm sorry," Saffron said, spreading her hands, and she looked truly apologetic. "Many people here have the same problem. But others have tried to leave by boat, and they could only get so far before they were pulled right back. The furthest we can get is to the other, smaller island, a short distance away from this one."

[patration]

His eyes traveled over her expression, and it was comforting to see that certain things were constant, even among different peoples. This place trapped people, apparently. Had walls and waves which kept anyone from escaping and returning to the homes they very possibly longed for even more than Zhuge did on the worst of days. And that immediately made Zhuge's priority exploring the island further, both for the sake of the friends he wanted dearly to return to, but also for the population of the island, for people like this woman, who very likely shared in that sentiment. His gaze lowered and he rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, the feathered fan patting against his sleeve.

"And what methods have we tried? I assume boats, ships..." Zhuge thought aloud, half to himself, before he looked up at the woman again with a sheepish smile. "Ah, pardon me, I didn't mean to interrogate, and should apologize for my manners. Zhuge Liang."

He bowed again, fan quickly tucked away in his sleeve.

[poison_lipstick]

This guy was a thinker; Saffron could practically see the wheels turning in his head. And she wagered a guess he was damn smart, too. "Not at all, it's understandable," she replied with a warm smile. She bent forward into a proper bow, something she hadn't done in a very long time. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Helen. If you wish, I can show you around a little."

[patration]

The bow was, even if not quite that which Zhuge was accustomed to receiving from women, deep. Respectful. Not bearing similarity to the way that he'd seen the Romans greeting Chinese officials when they came into port bearing goods that they'd brought for trade. It meant tha this woman, one way or another, was more familiar with the type of mentality that people adopted in Zhuge's nation. He found it at once curious, striking, and even a touch amusing, to the point where the smile on his face lingered without wavering in strength.

"Helen, the fortunate one is myself in this meeting," he said, opting for another bow. "And should you have the time, I would be very obliged to learn more about this land and its intricacies."

[poison_lipstick]

"Of course, I'd be happy to explain as much as I can and answer your questions to the best of my ability," Saffron said. She made a delicate gesture with one hand. "If we go this way, I can show you to the central building of our island, called the Compound."

David, who'd been noticeably more visible than usual ever since Saffron's week in the clinic after the space station, let out a small squawk of protest and rustled his wings. "I'm sorry, David tends to be a bit protective," she explained to Zhuge. "He's extremely well-trained and will not harm your birds, but I can send him away if you'd be more comfortable." He was a hawk, after all, and she wasn't sure if that would make him uneasy in the presence of his pigeons.

[patration]

Zhuge let out a small laugh, quick and easy. He was comforted by the fact that the woman had assured him the safety of his birds, and in the end that was all Zhuge needed. If he was perceived as a threat, if he had to keep a certain distance away from Helen, that was an unspoken request he'd oblige. Pets and familiars had as much right to be protective of their masters as their masters did them, after all- the relationship was not usually quite as uneven as people perceived it to be.

"Provided that he doesn't harm those close to my heart, I have no qualm with him choosing to remain close to those he holds dear," Zhuge replied, looking up to the bird with a reassuring smile. "As for my own birds, I must say that they aren't half as protective of me, but also are well-trained. Docile. Perhaps occasionally a little too trusting."

His smile widened. He preferred that quality in people. The ability to emotionally invest in someone, to trust in their protection, it was a trait that Zhuge chose to protect above any other. Turning his gaze to Helen again, he nodded. "But I would love to see the Compound, yes. I imagine that's where your leader resides?"