Post by deathworm on Jan 12, 2016 5:39:17 GMT
“Been a good day, hasn’t it?” Like he had been ever since he set on his journey, Jal caught himself speaking to Olid in that light conversational tone he reserved for close friends. Having figured the sleepy eyed cat was his most trustworthy companion for the time being he didn’t really see anything wrong with it. It earned him a few side eye glances from people passing by but Olid just glanced up at him, meowing noncommittally. “Ah, the hell do you know? You slept through half of it again.” Jal had arrived in Etirath that morning exhausted, broke, and coated head to toe in dust but after several hours of saying cryptic things in a husky voice he was just exhausted and coated in dust. He’d managed to locate a busy market and set up a makeshift station in a shaded corner, luring people over with the routine he’d been using for years in various villages- sly grins and pointed whisper that managed to find itself to people’s ears with a little help. If he draped his cloak right and smeared a bit of ash around his eyes he could convince people he was legitimate and he’d done enough palm-readings in the past few hours to earn a stay in a semi-decent inn. After spending so many nights sleeping in trees or bushes, the idea of a bed was almost too much to imagine. Add in the idea of eating something besides gamey rabbit and scavenged vegetables and Jal found himself completely overwhelmed, the goofy grin he’d been repressing all day for images sake creeping back onto his face.
As the sun began to set he could feel exhaustion settling back into his bones, the familiar feeling spreading through his brain. It was like wet cloth or the first time he’d tried the sweet wine Guilder brewed for special occasions and ended up bent over a bush while Rosen held his hair back, scolding him for not being able to hold his drink and Guilder for not teaching Jal how to pace himself. But just like drinking the syrupy wine it got easier each time he did it though while it didn’t leave him falling over telling fortunes repeatedly often left him a bit dazed even if the street ones were mostly nonsense. When people wandered up to him on a whim he knew they didn’t want to hear anything serious. They wanted to hear how they were going to meet someone tall, dark, and handsome or small, blonde, and stupid. So he mixed the truth with a few niceties and sent them off a few coins poorer for his trouble.
But all this thinking was unnecessary so he ran a hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut for a brief second to clear his head. At some point he’d started walking without properly realizing it which happened a lot on his journey. It seemed to work better than trying to figure out directions. His brain tended to be unreliable but his feet always seemed to know which way to lead him. So he just wandered through the streets, Olid jogging along beside him with a put-out expression on his rather expressive face. The still young cat had never settled into his lot in life quite right and preferred to behave as if he was a much larger animal. So far it had been working but now there was a bit of a struggle to keep up with Jal’s own long strides, especially after a successful day of napping. Another whiney mewl caught Jal’s attention and he looked down to find Olid glaring up at him. “Yes, well, if you weren’t so proud I could carry you. But if you’re going to insist on behaving like this, you’ll walk like the rest of us poor creatures.” They bickered like an old married couple half the time though it was mostly Jal’s fault. His link with Olid had only grown stronger and he could pick up more subtext in a single meow than he would have liked normally but he put up with Olid’s moods because he knew he needed him.
Before too long he found himself in front of an inn that looked just mid-level enough to be affordable without running the risk of being robbed by someone other than the owner. Pausing in front of the door, Jal scooped up Olid and looked him in his good eye. “Be quiet or I’ll skin you and use your guts to help some silly girl find her husband.” The threat was hollow but the intent was there and Olid settled for biting Jal’s finger as he was unceremoniously placed in the pack slung over his shoulders. It was a precautionary measure as Jal was too tired to find another inn on the chance this one wouldn’t allow Olid. Assured of his familiar’s silence, Jal entered the bar, stumbling slightly as his eyes adjusted to the sudden dimness. With a bit of squinting he managed to find his way to the bar and with what he hoped was a charming smile he caught the bartender’s attention.
“Hullo. I’ll take whatever food and drink is cheapest while still being edible, and a room if you have it.” The room and drink, along with the promise of food to come, were granted without much issue once he proved he did have enough coins despite his admittedly shabby appearance. He knew at some point he’d have to clean himself and possibly even find new clothes. But that could wait. Right now all he could think about was finding the college, though he was beginning to wonder if there was a certain dress expected of him. Aside from Yaga he knew very few magic users and the idea of being surrounded by them had him a bit nervous. He’d managed to find out small bits of information about the college through idle chatter with the locals but not much more than the location and what it was. That was more than enough to have him fidgeting, various thoughts battling it out in his head. Some were his own invention, some brief flashes of fact, though the distinction hardly mattered. The end rustle was a vague giddiness as he nursed his drink, fingers drumming against the bar without any set rhythm.
As the sun began to set he could feel exhaustion settling back into his bones, the familiar feeling spreading through his brain. It was like wet cloth or the first time he’d tried the sweet wine Guilder brewed for special occasions and ended up bent over a bush while Rosen held his hair back, scolding him for not being able to hold his drink and Guilder for not teaching Jal how to pace himself. But just like drinking the syrupy wine it got easier each time he did it though while it didn’t leave him falling over telling fortunes repeatedly often left him a bit dazed even if the street ones were mostly nonsense. When people wandered up to him on a whim he knew they didn’t want to hear anything serious. They wanted to hear how they were going to meet someone tall, dark, and handsome or small, blonde, and stupid. So he mixed the truth with a few niceties and sent them off a few coins poorer for his trouble.
But all this thinking was unnecessary so he ran a hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut for a brief second to clear his head. At some point he’d started walking without properly realizing it which happened a lot on his journey. It seemed to work better than trying to figure out directions. His brain tended to be unreliable but his feet always seemed to know which way to lead him. So he just wandered through the streets, Olid jogging along beside him with a put-out expression on his rather expressive face. The still young cat had never settled into his lot in life quite right and preferred to behave as if he was a much larger animal. So far it had been working but now there was a bit of a struggle to keep up with Jal’s own long strides, especially after a successful day of napping. Another whiney mewl caught Jal’s attention and he looked down to find Olid glaring up at him. “Yes, well, if you weren’t so proud I could carry you. But if you’re going to insist on behaving like this, you’ll walk like the rest of us poor creatures.” They bickered like an old married couple half the time though it was mostly Jal’s fault. His link with Olid had only grown stronger and he could pick up more subtext in a single meow than he would have liked normally but he put up with Olid’s moods because he knew he needed him.
Before too long he found himself in front of an inn that looked just mid-level enough to be affordable without running the risk of being robbed by someone other than the owner. Pausing in front of the door, Jal scooped up Olid and looked him in his good eye. “Be quiet or I’ll skin you and use your guts to help some silly girl find her husband.” The threat was hollow but the intent was there and Olid settled for biting Jal’s finger as he was unceremoniously placed in the pack slung over his shoulders. It was a precautionary measure as Jal was too tired to find another inn on the chance this one wouldn’t allow Olid. Assured of his familiar’s silence, Jal entered the bar, stumbling slightly as his eyes adjusted to the sudden dimness. With a bit of squinting he managed to find his way to the bar and with what he hoped was a charming smile he caught the bartender’s attention.
“Hullo. I’ll take whatever food and drink is cheapest while still being edible, and a room if you have it.” The room and drink, along with the promise of food to come, were granted without much issue once he proved he did have enough coins despite his admittedly shabby appearance. He knew at some point he’d have to clean himself and possibly even find new clothes. But that could wait. Right now all he could think about was finding the college, though he was beginning to wonder if there was a certain dress expected of him. Aside from Yaga he knew very few magic users and the idea of being surrounded by them had him a bit nervous. He’d managed to find out small bits of information about the college through idle chatter with the locals but not much more than the location and what it was. That was more than enough to have him fidgeting, various thoughts battling it out in his head. Some were his own invention, some brief flashes of fact, though the distinction hardly mattered. The end rustle was a vague giddiness as he nursed his drink, fingers drumming against the bar without any set rhythm.