Nairi's answer was as good as any other he'd heard, and the bard nodded encouragingly. "A guess is as good a place to start as any, when we know so little about it," he agreed with a smile. The smile softened as Seiji offered the young woman the cloak, the bard humming softly in pleasure at the kindness and generosity in the gesture. He was glad to see that both of the new outlanders seemed to be good people, as far as their brief interaction could tell. Nairi was, perhaps, more outwardly brave but Seiji's slim frame hid a resilient strength as well.
The bard laughed softly at Nairi's exasperation, but he turned on nimble feet to offer her a bow of apology, walking backwards for a few steps before turning forward again. "I'm sorry,Nairi. I was only teasing. Though... this world has creatures you might not be familiar with. They've certainly surprised me on more than one occasion!" And he had the scars on his shoulder to prove it. "But in truth I would be interested in exploring a bit as well. I am not normally someone who enjoys staying in one place very long." He gave a wry little shrug. "I certainly spent my first few weeks seeing as much of this place as I could with my own eyes, and it sounds like you'll want to do the same. But when you head into the Underground, I would be glad to accompany you."
He tilted his head at Seiji with a raised brow, a silent question - and invitation - if the young man would also be interested in such an adventure some day. For now, though, his expression sobered and the bard glanced to the horizon and the rising moon. "We're going to the Settlement, first. Once there I'll lead you to the Temple. There's a bar in its basement called the Rathskeller. I work there as an entertainer some nights, and I can get you both food, drinks, and a spot in front of the fire to thaw you out. If you're hurt, the Infirmary is there as well, and my friend Isla works the nightshift and can help patch you up." His smile turned lopsided as he included both Nairi and Seiji in his gaze, voice gentling. "It's still a little ways away, though we should reach the edge of the woods in another few minutes. I know this must all be new and perhaps overwhelming... Is there anything I can do to make things easier for you, while we're walking?"
The bard laughed softly at Nairi's exasperation, but he turned on nimble feet to offer her a bow of apology, walking backwards for a few steps before turning forward again. "I'm sorry,
He tilted his head at Seiji with a raised brow, a silent question - and invitation - if the young man would also be interested in such an adventure some day. For now, though, his expression sobered and the bard glanced to the horizon and the rising moon. "We're going to the Settlement, first. Once there I'll lead you to the Temple. There's a bar in its basement called the Rathskeller. I work there as an entertainer some nights, and I can get you both food, drinks, and a spot in front of the fire to thaw you out. If you're hurt, the Infirmary is there as well, and my friend Isla works the nightshift and can help patch you up." His smile turned lopsided as he included both Nairi and Seiji in his gaze, voice gentling. "It's still a little ways away, though we should reach the edge of the woods in another few minutes. I know this must all be new and perhaps overwhelming... Is there anything I can do to make things easier for you, while we're walking?"
