For someone who hardly showed interest in any people, Yinbao was being uncomfortably inquisitive towards her. Selene inwardly frowned; had she made a wrong decision in deciding, as she had so far, to continue on interacting with the prince? Somewhere along the way, from the very first moment they recognized each other as skilled archers, to the competitions they had against each other, he had decided that she was the most interesting thing to come to the palace - outside of archery and hunting. Whether it was purely intellectual interest or whether he wanted to further develop a relationship with her past mere acquaintanceship, that was the question.
The huntress lifted a cup of hot sake, surprised at first that this was the drink the servants had served at this feast. Her eyes narrowed slightly at his words, and the unreadable staredown the two men on either side of her had. Sipping and feeling the smooth liquid slide like silk down her throat - she mused that the quality of this sake was vastly different from the sake most in the land had - she took a moment to stare at the prince with a gravely thoughtful look.
"I am sure that after years of fighting side by side and going through situations dealing with life and death has brought me and my partner as closer than just a mere working relationship, but I'm aware of what boundaries there are." Her answer was delivered in a noncommittal tone. Not that those boundaries had even been in place for years, but Yinbao didn't know that.
He could glean whatever meaning he could from those words, in an answer that was not an answer. Whatever he meant, it wasn't as if it was any of his concern what she was with Phynex.
Even if the fine trembling in her partner's arm was something she had to still with a grip around his wrist.
Dealing with this prince while in the presence of Phynex was proving more trouble than she expected.
The huntress lifted a cup of hot sake, surprised at first that this was the drink the servants had served at this feast. Her eyes narrowed slightly at his words, and the unreadable staredown the two men on either side of her had. Sipping and feeling the smooth liquid slide like silk down her throat - she mused that the quality of this sake was vastly different from the sake most in the land had - she took a moment to stare at the prince with a gravely thoughtful look.
"I am sure that after years of fighting side by side and going through situations dealing with life and death has brought me and my partner as closer than just a mere working relationship, but I'm aware of what boundaries there are." Her answer was delivered in a noncommittal tone. Not that those boundaries had even been in place for years, but Yinbao didn't know that.
He could glean whatever meaning he could from those words, in an answer that was not an answer. Whatever he meant, it wasn't as if it was any of his concern what she was with Phynex.
Even if the fine trembling in her partner's arm was something she had to still with a grip around his wrist.
Dealing with this prince while in the presence of Phynex was proving more trouble than she expected.
~
"You're quiet," Selene murmured, hearing no reply from the fire demon as he stared at something only he could see. His fingers were rhythmically stroking her hair, rubbing the strands in between his fingers. She closed her eyes and sighed, wondering if she should just nod off to sleep lulled by the fire demon's hand. The fight with Arashi was by far one of the more exciting - but not the most - battles she had and after such a week of hellish training, she was admittedly tired. Even if she never showed it during the week. And after a soothing bath and now lying on one of the softest futons, she was more than ready to sleep. It was a comfortable position to be in, facing him on the bed with his arm around her to reach for her hair, but his eyes were far, far away.
When the fire demon didn't reply, only murmuring something and stroking her hair, she admitted defeat. If he was going to do some deep thinking on his own, she was going to leave him to it - they both had those times to themselves. He was here, and if he needed to talk to her, he would speak up on his own. Selene was going to get some sleep. That, and his stroking was making her feel sleepier...
When the fire demon didn't reply, only murmuring something and stroking her hair, she admitted defeat. If he was going to do some deep thinking on his own, she was going to leave him to it - they both had those times to themselves. He was here, and if he needed to talk to her, he would speak up on his own. Selene was going to get some sleep. That, and his stroking was making her feel sleepier...
~
They rose bright and early in the morning to change into clothes more fit for Neo Edo - and for traveling long distances. Selene was just pleased to wear her usual clothes again, which wouldn't look out of place in that city. Her black coat, shorts, and a turtleneck meant she could once again feel more like herself instead of being some dolled up diplomat in elaborate kimono attires. Yet for some reason Kusamaru had miraculously delivered yet another parcel - when was he going to stop referring to her as his muse? - containing fine clothes... With slits at the side. After he had heard of what the huntress had done to her kimono when fighting Phynex, he had apparently taken that as a personal challenge. At least he wasn't insulted. Hakama, a kimono top, and Eastern-style tops to wear with shorts or boots - what was he thinking?
She glanced at Phynex as he finished dressing himself, having already finished on her own. "You look well-rested," she commented with a blank stare. He had slept well past when she had last night, but for some reason he looked like he had slept a full night's sleep instead of looking tired.
She glanced at Phynex as he finished dressing himself, having already finished on her own. "You look well-rested," she commented with a blank stare. He had slept well past when she had last night, but for some reason he looked like he had slept a full night's sleep instead of looking tired.