Cutting to the Chase...

A voice caught her attention, a strange, blue girl – as Xazinay viewed her – appeared and offered to lead her towards her escape companion and his master. Lights offered a path, the people generally ignoring her and the woman doing so in turn as she followed the little light show to the deck. Through that small journey – and having spent the past bit underground seeing the sun felt a little strange. ’Curious, but I suppose not unwarranted.’ It struck her as if life wanted to give her a moment’s reprieve from the shadows, everything oddly symbolic at the moment…but maybe she’d been reading too much again. ’It’s little more than a reprieve.’

At the other end of the comfortable yet somewhat spacious room sat the two men. The two men stood from their seats, the master looking calm as ever. Blade however…rocketed backwards and if there’d been much more force he might’ve gone off the edge, or so her imagination decided. ’What a curious reaction…it must be a condition of some sort.’ At least it hadn’t cropped up during their time underground or she might’ve been forced to drag him along…or mention to someone about the man with a bloody nose stuck down below. Blade’s master proved courteous, though Xazinay settled for bowing a little as well since the outfit restricted her from curtseying as she normally did. If a bloody KO was an approval…well, then people remained a minor interest for the woman as she couldn’t recall reading or seeing that as such a sign.

Then again people sometimes did bloody things in order to gain something so…perhaps she could understand it after all.

It’d be a bit before she could change back into the freer black dress, though as she became accustomed this outfit wasn’t so bad. Taking the offered seat, she murmured a small thank you to Azurius. ”Tea please. A little honey and milk on the side please.” Kindly she’d ignore the odd nickname, the man performing a favor by fixing one of her regular outfits and offering a ride in this rather luxurious ship as well. The splendor of cloud watching from up here, seeing just how wispy the fluffy white bodies could be was nice without the exertion of flying. With the dissolution of the girl Xazinay’s attention shifted back to the rough looking man though soon enough they again veered away to the wakening man as he rose and came rather close to her.

In contrast the raven haired woman showed no emotion, watching with minor interest as once again flew away from her – this time with remarkably less blood involved. One thing or another prevented the ship’s owner from finishing his inquiries or Xazinay from answering as the drinks arrived along with a few crumpets of sorts. Rather than answer immediately she awaited the woman’s arrival and serving of their refreshments. A cup before her alongside the requested fixings, Xazinay poured a dollop of honey into the cup and a small splash of milk before mixing. ”I have no particular place to be nor things to do at this time so anywhere is fine really. I merely need my dress back if it’ll be anyplace other than a town or city.”

The brew proved quite delicious, the woman softly sighing after a sip: sweet just as she liked it. “Sugar” might’ve been an ironic nickname in some ways, but when it came to her tea the woman did like diluting it often with honey and milk, sugar if honey couldn’t be offered. ”As for the nickname it’s something he chose, you’ll have to ask him why he opted for it.” It wasn’t a coy act with the servant: she didn’t understand it’d been something born out of hurt annoyance mixed with irony.

A thought occurred to it, a begrudging act as a small hint of petulance graced her face in the form of a tiny pout. With the snap of her fingers another tea set appeared on the table, the very same one Blade failed to retrieve twice from her – though the second time admittedly beyond his control. ”A present from Blade in commemoration of your new ship – this one I imagine – that he commissioned. If something ever happens to you though I’d rather like it back. It sports a very lovely pattern and display of craftsmanship.” She spoke with an air of nonchalance, casually sipping her tea and uncaring of how her added request would be seen as rude by most standards. In the girl’s mind however it was still “her’s” just that she currently offered to let him have it back until…possibly such times he couldn’t enjoy it anymore.

’He better be grateful,’ she thought, ’I don’t even know what’s come over me.’

Something pressed itself to her cheek without warning, reason, or request. A small wince and tick of her eyebrow as the woman shouted awfully close to her ear, though it smoothed back out quickly enough. Blessed be the maid girl for accidentally offering herself up as a sacrifice as the newest woman swapped targets and latched onto her, exclaiming about adorableness and the like. ’Finally, free,’ she thought as her expression further softened back to bland and she could safely sip at the sweetened tea a little.

Like the masters she knew the man attacked the woman, forcing her to cease her actions, the woman hardly batting an eye: she’d deserved it by defying her master. Except…it was strange…his lack of care didn’t faze her so much as the fact the woman brushed it off so easily and he seemed to imply it didn’t actually hurt? Perhaps it acted like a warning shot before the true punishment? ’Odd…but on occasion when they were in good moods even the Ancients offered…a chance…’ Rare as it may’ve been not an impossible occasion. More curious than that…when had she mentioned her last name?

Eyes narrowed a little over the rim of her cup, looking for the sign…but no. It wasn’t there. A mixture of increased suspicion and…dismay filled her. He wasn’t one of them. Only they should’ve known…but she hadn’t found one.

The relationship to the Loud One – Suriel as they kept referring to her – was supposed to be of a servant to Azurius as the master. They didn’t treat it like that. They treated each other like friends. Like family. ’How improper…’ She merely nodded to the woman, unsure how to categorize her, but unable to respect her as a “servant.” If she wouldn’t act befitting of the title then so be it.

Watching all of them though she imagined this to be a bit like a circus as one person cropped up right after another. Each sporting a different personality and creating something of a show…perhaps a “sitcom” would describe this moment well? Xazinay didn’t generally indulge in TV shows and the like on the lacrima whatevermahoozits people used these days. Books were more her thing. But…she might’ve watched a few and spent some time pondering whether people actually laughed or they utilized some sort of recording…’Yes, I would imagine this is where they draw their inspiration: groups like this.’

Though something he said did pique her interest a little bit. ” “Assigned?” “ she spoke over the rim of her cup, ”This means she’s not normally your…well…not quite attendant but…’companion’ feels more applicable for your relationship to me. Are Blade and…I don’t believe I’ve caught the name of your maid yet, but are they both assigned as well?” She found the prospect curious, wondering why some of them turned out better than others. Blade possessed a sense of honor about him, ready to do as his master pleased and lay down his life if required. The maid remained quite proper despite her master’s more…lax nature Xazinay noticed, yet remained content merely to sit and not selfishly nor wantonly poor tea for herself. Those two should could understand far more, even if she’d been a bit annoyed and short with Blade earlier. In her defense though he had been harassing her over something she rightfully claimed as her’s and went so far as to knock them both down into a pit of his causing.
Admittedly though she couldn’t decide whether she wanted him to remain in-the-dark about her gifting the set to Azurius or find out…a hard decision to make to be sure.