[Mini Event] Strangers in a Strange Land

Her hostility might’ve been hidden if Koel had activated his necklace the moment she started speaking in a foreign tongue; he didn’t know if it would help him parse her words, but at least being able to read her emotions might help him navigate the conversation.Indeed as the gibberish—well, to him it sounded like gibberish—started pouring from her lips, he frowned and concentrated for a moment, which allowed him to activate the empathic powers of his jewelry.  It was exhausting if he kept it up, but he could manage it for the duration of a conversation. Then, he felt her emotions clear as day and he had to prevent himself from letting anything too obvious show on his face. Her dislike for him was a bit of a surprise, and his eyes widened before he carefully schooled himself into a polite expression. Why this woman would be mad at him specifically or the Northaveners in general, he couldn’t say, but he’d do his best. He shot a glance at @grusha, before returning his gaze to Tae, who seemed to be the spokesperson for the two of them. At the very least, she eventually did speak in a tongue he understood. It was probably better this way: while the smaller woman tried to disassemble and hide and be diplomatic, the taller one wore her emotions more openly. That might make his job, easier, actually. While once upon a time he might’ve tried to win the women over, he was done politicking. So when Tae spoke in a tongue he could understand, he gave her an unamused and unfriendly look, a match for the one that Grusha had. ”You’re not pleased to meet me. That’s fine, and you don’t have to fake it for me. But I am pleased to meet you both, and I can assure you I mean you no harm.” His words came out bluntly—and they had no reason to believe him—but his posture was non threatening and he was being totally honest. He wasn’t scared of these women, nor did he feel the need to impress them. Plus, he was done pretending he was something that he wasn’t. As Tae held out her bloodstained hands, he snorted, shrugged, and withdrew his own outstretched hand. ”I don’t mind a little bit of blood. Or even a lot of blood, if it comes to it.” What passed across his face in the moment would be more accurately characterized as baring his teeth rather than a smile, but it passed so quickly that they might not have noticed. Still, he wasn’t going to act cheerful. Tae was welcome to feign happiness and politeness, but she’d be alone here; indeed, though she was the one speaking and the emotions he was sensing, he was keeping an eye on Grusha out of the corner of his eye, trusting in his magic item and the taller woman’s expressions to steer him through this rather than Tae’s false demeanor. koel ambray Taking the path of most resistance