#i just went off on what felt right instead of sticking to it KJSHDJFHS

[furymint]

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header | non verbal starters | wc: 635

Send 👍 for my muse to approve of something yours did. i totally forgot the point after resuming this 2 months later but yknow

Ninira had been on international panels of realm-shaking importance before. She had observed the polite confusion when Admiral Merlwyb outlined an action plan with nautical jargon; when an Ul'dahn ostiary turned his palm out for a tip, she had coached the Elder Seedseer herself on the Ossuarry's practices; on a half-night's sleep she had been summoned to interpret Dozol Meloc's nervous squawks for a Halonic Inquisitor.

Part of her wanted to admit that each experience paled to the council afore her.

"If it's called the Sea of Clouds," L'selle went on, "and instead of depth, your traveling is measured in altitude, that makes--what?--the heavens your ocean floor?"

Every eye in the Congregation moved to L'selle. He returned his cider to his lips with a bastard's contentment and a foreigner's disregard. Across the table, the bastard and the foreigner mulled through their grief. Ninira sank under her embarrassment.

"I just think so," L'selle started again.

"Then don't--" Rothe hissed, but Estinien interrupted:

"No, no, let him have it."

Ninira prodded L'selle and transitioned one of her biscuits to his plate. Momentarily distracted, he broke a chunk of it free and stuffed it into his evil mouth.

The others regrouped.

Estinien was still trying to keep from laughing after the first outburst to L'selle's conclusion. "None of us can say the man's wrong."

"Neither can we say he's right-headed for it," Rothe insisted. "If he and I are to be arrested--again--then surely the Inquisition will be less forgiving than the Alliance towards that rat's complete lack of documentation. I have enough funds to collect ingredients from the Crozier, not to post bond."

Estinien was of no help: "Bond? One would think the clergy venal enough for such an institution, but no, sir, not here."

Ninira sympathized--especially under the continued judgement of the Congregation regulars. "If the Holy See has permitted you thus far, you should be in no danger of rejection at this point."

"That's right!" L'selle asserted. "If airships wanna hawser and gaff their way into other city-states for their markets, they ought to think about what truths and lies they bring back in new perspectives. The horizon may be neverending but this world's small."

Rothe whined something about Rhalgr moving in skies too far east to protect them. For his part, Estinien renewed the debate when he gave a half-formed contribution about there being the cardinal directions to account for in addition to altitude. 

"Oh, aye, that grasshopper thing you do," L'selle said contemplatively, though still talking around a mouthful of food.

Estinien pointed his knife in Rothe's direction, wagging it with no concept of how plainly threatening it was, and squinted as he struggled to recall, "Not that chapuli debacle?"

Rothe slapped his palms to the table. L'selle howled at the memory and roared his pride, too far distracted now to correct Estinien. And Ninira smiled sheepishly into the face of the approaching guard.

"Gentlemen. Lady Ninira," the knight began his censure--and never continued. L'selle sprung up from the bench, already "in the know of what a swad's got to say," and bounded for the exit.

The first to grumble "leave him" was also the first to follow. Rothe tightened his scarf about his face and chased the ever-more-faraway sound of L'selle's raucous chatter.

Estinien dismissed the gaping soldier with a curt shove at the man's regiment badge. He turned to offer Ninira his hand, but he hesitated when formality seized him. It was too late--Ninira took hold of his palm and gave a tug for his attention. He bent to her.

"How long until they have half the Pillars on alert for renegades and drunks?" she asked, the last one to lose her reserve.

He felt the return of his laughter in the squeeze of her hand. "Fury knows I'm looking forward to it."

#bookshop au gave me POWER and INSPIRATION #i had the beginning of this already done in my drafts #but didnt actually #remember the prompt so uh #i just went off on what felt right instead of sticking to it KJSHDJFHS #bri writes #l'selle ran