If you cannot teach me to fly . . .

[freedom_is_grey]

It only takes Dave ten minutes to pull Ysalwen away from the siren call of maps and ancient scrolls.

Then she and Liranan decide to show him their favorite places in Milliways.

One location to begin from is the tropical inlet. Because the water and the sand there are warm, and it's very much unlike anywhere else that Ysalwen has ever been.

Comments

[freedom_is_grey]

She leans over as if to inspect his wrists, hand dropping to her belt pouch in search of a healing poultice.

"Here, let me see, will there be bruising?"

Ysalwen worries, okay? A little. Sometimes. When someone is flying with her entire weight in their hands.

Yes.

Meanwhile Liranan yips cheerfully. He knows all the shortcuts, Dave! Let him show you! Ysa will come, too!

[stridersgonnastride]

"nah it's fine don't worry about it."

He does rub his wrists a little, but pulls carefully away from her if she tries to touch him or pull up his sleeve.

"okay so you were right about the view"

[freedom_is_grey]

Ysalwen keeps her hands to herself, pulling away from him a little at the first sign that he would rather she not.

Bodily autonomy is in short supply, some days. So.

"It makes this place feel bigger than it is, a little. And -- I don't know. I like being able to see everything all at once."

[stridersgonnastride]

"it's quiet up here too"

[freedom_is_grey]

Her smile is crooked, but her eyes are bright.

"Well, yes. That, too. And reasonably empty much of the time."

[stridersgonnastride]

"great perfect for disposing of people you don't need around anymore

"just fly up to the top, find a nice view and shove them off the edge. scenically. splat street pizza"

He's smiling a little too, mostly hidden behind the nonsensical tangent.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Well, considering I need you to get back down . . . "

You're stuck with her, Dave.

Woe.

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah," he says. "but i don't need you

"i'll have to weigh the pros and cons. good singer, but very curious and edging toward nosy. totally badass magic user, kind of shrimpy and undersized. gives good bro, though. i guess you're okay for now."

Dave smirks and crosses his arms, still staring out at the grounds.

[freedom_is_grey]

"The appropriate amount of stealth nosy is a survival trait, I'll have you know."

She folds her own arms, looking out over the grounds and paying no attention to Dave at all.

Liranan attempts to mimic them with only a moderate level of success.

"And I get tired of the stealth when I don't have to play political games, so."

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah sure whatever you say

"all the nosy broads want to know more about me it's the price you pay for as a strider for being so effortlessly cool"

Yep.

[freedom_is_grey]

"I'm sorry, who has an incredibly awesome facial tattoo?"

Not you, Dave.

Not you.