okay but do we have to leave so soon

[liakoura]

The Ardelay twins loiter in the palace for a few days, then fall back to the Chialto house, in plenty of time to receive any prompt reply to the correspondence Kiri sent out when they arrived in the city.

Comments

[pyrophyte]

Ekador is currently chewing on a bite of rice, and therefore cannot answer immediately.

—And then a look of extreme startlement crosses his face and he starts coughing into his hand.

[liakoura]

"Are - you okay?" exclaims Aleko.

[calescent]

Kiri looks at Sarelle, who will know better than she will if Ekador needs extra help with his airway.

[calendarofcrime]

"He is not in danger," says Sarelle.

[pyrophyte]

Still coughing, he nods several times.

The coughing abates.

He stares at Loel.

[calescent]

Kiri calms down, and looks at Ekador instead.

[liakoura]

"...What's going on?"

[pyrophyte]

...Ekador is at a loss for words.

[free_flowing]

Loel raises his eyebrows. "And you are giving me this look because...?"

[pyrophyte]

"I am... astonished," he says, "astonished is the word - I am astonished by the number and variety of otherwise healthy bones that you have broken in your life."

[free_flowing]

"...mm," says Loel.

[calescent]

Kiri manages a "disturbed" facial expression largely untainted by other knowledge.

[liakoura]

Aleko looks maybe more worried than disturbed.

[free_flowing]

"It's... not a problem I have anymore," he says. "And I'd rather not get into it."

[pyrophyte]

Ekador looks deeply conflicted.

[calescent]

Kiri waits to see if anyone needs her to confirm that it is really not a problem Loel has anymore or that he would really rather not get into it. She doesn't think that her talking too much can improve anything.

[pyrophyte]

"I can... see that it is no longer a problem," he says. "It seems not to have been a problem for... several years. It troubles me that it was ever a problem. It troubles me further that—" He cuts himself off and shakes his head.

[free_flowing]

"Sorry," says Loel, smiling crookedly.

[liakoura]

Aleko is following Kiri's lead on the not talking thing.

[free_flowing]

"Anyway," says Loel. "How are you liking Welce? I think it's pretty great here, except for the weird thing about clothes."

[pyrophyte]

"...dare I ask, what weird thing about clothes?"

[free_flowing]

Loel giggles.

"The thing where it's a big deal if somebody doesn't wear them. In Thiyec that's a weird thing to care that much about. I mean, imagine moving from here to someplace where people react to, I don't know... to somebody walking around without shoes on, the way people here would react to somebody walking around naked. It takes some adjusting. I have to remind myself that if somebody comes up the road and sees me not wearing enough by local standards, they're gonna be upset."

[liakoura]

"I didn't like Thiyec much," mutters Aleko.

[pyrophyte]

Ekador blinks several times. "I... see."

[liakoura]

"They seriously have people walking around naked all the time there. Even in the rain. Especially in the rain? Simultaneously with the rain, anyway."