Are
The stranger's return smile made him feel better about his initial gauging of him, a kind outlander just like himself. Well, at the best of times at least. The friendly reply cemented his first impression, one of his own heart, and exactly what the world needed. Just a little drop of sunshine in the gloomy gray.
It only made Are cringe even harder at that touch of shadow his question invoked. A darkness he knew far too well and should've known better than to remind the newcomer of. A better man was not one that ran around poking at fresh wounds like that, especially not when his careless jab was met with such grace.
He bit the inside of his cheek and scratched at the ever present shade on his chin, mottled eyes flashing a pang of regret and sympathy. "Sorry, Killian. I know the pain, far, far too well..." he said and offered up a somber smile while his fingers where busy tugging at the reminder of a life left behind. One last thread to the past.
"Running, eh? You didn't saw what took you?" while his fingers where callused and deft, his tongue where akin to long tongs; fumbling with changing subject with any tact, and not helped by his craggy dialect. "An oar did me in, an oar and a quick tumble into Ägir's domains." his hands drawing the scene before him and gesticulating the cobbler's sodden demise as he went into the cold waters.
It only made Are cringe even harder at that touch of shadow his question invoked. A darkness he knew far too well and should've known better than to remind the newcomer of. A better man was not one that ran around poking at fresh wounds like that, especially not when his careless jab was met with such grace.
He bit the inside of his cheek and scratched at the ever present shade on his chin, mottled eyes flashing a pang of regret and sympathy. "Sorry, Killian. I know the pain, far, far too well..." he said and offered up a somber smile while his fingers where busy tugging at the reminder of a life left behind. One last thread to the past.
"Running, eh? You didn't saw what took you?" while his fingers where callused and deft, his tongue where akin to long tongs; fumbling with changing subject with any tact, and not helped by his craggy dialect. "An oar did me in, an oar and a quick tumble into Ägir's domains." his hands drawing the scene before him and gesticulating the cobbler's sodden demise as he went into the cold waters.
