Skyships. There was just something about all that wood and metal being airborne that made Sohalia's insides squirm.
It was different when she was shifted. She was in control of where she went, and how high, and how fast. Being trapped in an airship... well, if it crashed, she was afraid there would be no way out. It wasn't the flying so much as the lack of control, but explaining all of that to a stranger felt like too much. Tal had been kind, but he couldn't possibly be that interested in Sohalia and her problems.
Tal grinned and leaned back, and Sohalia flushed with embarrassment, at first misreading the grin to be laughter at her admission. But then the courier offered her a place on his very own skyship, and she couldn't help but stare at him with astonishment. [say]"You... own a skyship?"[/say] she squeaked. [say]"Oh! What am I saying, of course you do. How else would you do your job?"[/say] she added with a self-deprecating laugh.
Then she paused, looking down at her hands in her lap, suddenly self-conscious. It was a very kind offer, and she was unlikely to find a better opportunity to see how a skyship worked up close. Still, she felt as though she were already in his debt. After all, he had allowed her to join him at his table, and to monopolize his time with her chatter. [say]"I - I would love that,"[/say] she said after a moment's hesitation. [say]"But I don't know how to repay you."[/say]
She paused, then her face lit up. [say]"Oh, I know!"[/say] she said. [say]"I know you have Boreal, and you probably don't need it, but I could help you deliver something!"[/say] She watched Tal eagerly, the desire to be useful clear on her pretty face. Now that the opportunity was upon her, she was excited - and hopeful that he would say yes.
It was different when she was shifted. She was in control of where she went, and how high, and how fast. Being trapped in an airship... well, if it crashed, she was afraid there would be no way out. It wasn't the flying so much as the lack of control, but explaining all of that to a stranger felt like too much. Tal had been kind, but he couldn't possibly be that interested in Sohalia and her problems.
Tal grinned and leaned back, and Sohalia flushed with embarrassment, at first misreading the grin to be laughter at her admission. But then the courier offered her a place on his very own skyship, and she couldn't help but stare at him with astonishment. [say]"You... own a skyship?"[/say] she squeaked. [say]"Oh! What am I saying, of course you do. How else would you do your job?"[/say] she added with a self-deprecating laugh.
Then she paused, looking down at her hands in her lap, suddenly self-conscious. It was a very kind offer, and she was unlikely to find a better opportunity to see how a skyship worked up close. Still, she felt as though she were already in his debt. After all, he had allowed her to join him at his table, and to monopolize his time with her chatter. [say]"I - I would love that,"[/say] she said after a moment's hesitation. [say]"But I don't know how to repay you."[/say]
She paused, then her face lit up. [say]"Oh, I know!"[/say] she said. [say]"I know you have Boreal, and you probably don't need it, but I could help you deliver something!"[/say] She watched Tal eagerly, the desire to be useful clear on her pretty face. Now that the opportunity was upon her, she was excited - and hopeful that he would say yes.
