(Untitled)

[adogshonor]

Characters: Penelo, Larsa, Gabranth
Progress: Truckin' along
Summary:  Some dudes get off an airship, another dude is waiting for them.
Location: Lindblum
Date: January 29th
Warnings: None

Comments

[danceawaypain]

Penelo had been a step behind Larsa when she disembarked, but he'd grown so much since when they'd first met that she was a mere slip of blonde hair peeking out from behind. It gave her an additional moment to take a deep breath and steady herself and then nod politely to the judge. Just seeing the armor was enough to make her heart race. How many times had one of them been out for the blood of her friends. Especially this one. He'd murdered her king.

She knew the face under the mask was identical to Basch's, which was even more disconcerting for her. But Larsa trusted him, both of them, and she was going to have to trust in Larsa's faith in the armor clad terror in front of her. Knowing that he was here and alive was one thing. Seeing the man in person, was entirely different.

[adogshonor]

He sighed silently to himself, but gave a quick nod of agreement to the young lord before he unlatched his helmet and tugged it off, and tucked it beneath one arm before regarding the odd pair. He’d seen them in one another’s company in the castle so long ago, but that had been a passing fancy he’d thought, just a boy being a boy.

He was frowning, he realized, and quickly replaced it with what he hoped was a reassuringly kind smile. He felt the sudden urge to lift a hand and ruffle the boy’s hair. But he had grown! Nevertheless, his hand staid too his side, uncomfortably close to the hilts of his blades a certain blonde might notice.

His eyes skipped to that blonde’s face, the smile diminishing a touch. He suddenly found himself feeling awkward under the girl’s gaze. He dipped down in a quick bow finally, and said:

“My thanks for looking after Lord Larsa, Miss Penelo.”

He straightened then, eyes jumping to Larsa then back to her, and he added as if remembering: "And being such a good friend."

[danceawaypain]

Her clothing might have changed, but deep down she was still the impressionable young girl she'd always been. Larsa's touch was comforting, but seeing Gabranth issue her a bow stunned her. So much so, that the thanks barely registered with her. "Uh, sure," was all she could manage to get out, quickly looking between the two to mask her surprise and the fact that he really did look like Basch, even if he didn't sound like him. "I always enjoy spending time with Larsa," was added as an afterthought, even though it was sincerely true.

She glanced to Larsa, waiting for him to give her a clue what to do next. After all, if someone was here to look after him, was she really needed? Did they want to talk alone? There were some awkward things that probably had to be discussed.

[adogshonor]

He nodded to the girl, eyes glued to her face for a moment. Was she really so dependable? How could such a seemingly meek girl be a friend the lord trusted with his life? Then again, she had been part of the group that had stood up to him, back then in that dark room in Pharaohs. Something akin to shame tugged at his stomach. He’d failed in so many ways that day.

He was suddenly frowning, all business as he looked to Larsa.

“I’ve seen to booking an appointment at a clothing store, My Lord. Unless you have changed your mind about the ball?”

He wasn’t going to leave it to chance that the boy didn’t get to attend something he should be.

“And you,” he nodded to Penelo.

[danceawaypain]

The frown puzzled Penelo and for a minute or two, she wondered if she'd said something wrong. It wasn't like she'd been trained in court etiquette and protocol. Maybe not, if Larsa wasn't put off.

She smiled and nodded in agreement with Larsa. "Thanks. I appreciate it." The smile was genuine, even if it was new for her, putting aside the past. It was over, right? Even though he was the source of so many of her past woes, it was time to move on from that.

[adogshonor]

The man relaxed a little at the smile that Penelo gave him. He couldn’t say he’d ever imagined seeing any of that motley crew smile at him, but it was a new world after all. He wasn’t entirely blind to the implications of a new world and the new beginning it might offer, but memories of failure still clouded his considerations. The only thing he was sure of was that Larsa was here, and he’d promised his father and Judge Drace that he’d protect the boy.

.. Before he’d a killed her. A pang of guilt shot through him, but he hid it behind his returned smile and a gesture of his arm, directing the two to start walking ahead of him. How odd it must be for the girl to have an old (dead, he reminded himself)enemy escorting her around.

“We’ve time, Lord. The shopkeeper assured me we might visit any time before dusk.”

[danceawaypain]

"Oh!" She blinked once or twice then stammered out, "Sure, that's fine." It certainly was refreshing to be asked if something was acceptable to her. A far cry from running down headstrong orphans and sky pirates. "Did you want to look around the city first? It's pretty big, but there's a lot of activities going on as part of their festival."