Find New Beginning In Defeat

EmiRose

The Shipping Enthusiast
Inactive
Mar 24, 2018
3,983
Finland
Posting Status
Hiatus
The crown fit Irso splendidly, and at this point Huilu did not mind or take notice of the looks people gave them. Naturally she was going to receive some due to the glittering light crown on her head, she had accepted her fate. And now Irso could share it with her.
"You would certainly be a wise and informed ruler."
Huilu agreed, and watched Irso spin his new scepter with an amused smile on her face.

It took a short moment for Huilu to realize what Irso was possibly implicating with his words, and it looked like Huilu realized it faster than Irso. She did blush slightly, but yet again it was not discernible on her already red cheeks. But Huilu did not dwell in the meaning behind Irso's words for too long, since it seemed like Irso had not meant to insert that meaning on purpose.
"If it is possible to have an adviser such as you I believe I could have a long and fruitful reign. But I would not underestimate you so quickly, an intelligent king sets a powerful example and with a good head for politics could lead the kingdom into prosperity with no bloodshed."
Huilu could very well imagine Irso leading his imaginary kingdom wisely, as for her being queen, she could see it but wasn't sure if she wanted it. But this was all but simply playing around.
"And I couldn't possibly lead a coup. If I must claim power I wish to do it in a more subtle way."
Huilu had many plans as to how she could do that. She didn't have to be in the spotlight, she could plant a puppet ruler and be the one to pull the strings, or simply charm the current ruler and make herself their most important adviser.

Huilu received the handkerchief with a grateful nod, and dabbed her nose a bit.
"Yes, perhaps we should find a more warm place. As it seems our tea is running out as well."
Huilu smiled a bit and lifted her own cup, it was almost empty as well and the tea getting cool.
 

Lich King

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2016
633
Malazan
Irso agreed with Huliu as he tossed his now empty drink into a trash can. It was amusing to hear Huliu mention a more subtle form of rulership as he could theorize that it was what she was doing now. In his years of life, he'd come to the realization that not everyone was as they appeared. A sweet face could mask a more ruthless and conniving individual. Even his outer appearance covered up much darker things that weren't necessary to let the world see. It was charming, a devious mind. While there were being of pure goodness in existence he always loved those creatures that felt the dichotomy of good and bad and lived with it. He had done some horrible things in life, but yet he still believed himself to be a good Angel, to his master, and then those he passed by.

Seeing that Huliu had the brains to think, as silly as that sounded to him, was very appealing. He smiled as he looked around for a good place to go when he spotted a cafe who through some strange magic had managed to keep the front of their store completely devoid of snow and snowfall. Flakes simply flew around the place landing toward the street edge forming a pile. "I'm not much of a coffee drinker but there is the cafe over there. Maybe they'll have some food., and we can refresh your tea."

He had eaten earlier in the morning but his appetite had only grown over the years he'd been alive. Food was also a valuable source of information...is how he justified eating so much, "You hungry at all. I'm sure Eein and Whisp have given you a five-star breakfast already" he chuckled slightly.
 

EmiRose

The Shipping Enthusiast
Inactive
Mar 24, 2018
3,983
Finland
Posting Status
Hiatus
Huilu was aware, that the alternative form of ruling she was talking about must've sounded similar to her current situation. But Huilu had not acquired this position through mindgames. She had been ready to accept the fact, that she would not hold any power. But it had been the new leader that had offered her this position, and Huilu had selfishly accepted it. Everyone could say what they wanted, but Huilu didn't have anything but genuine, selfless intentions to help her people.

Huilu spotted the same cafe as Irso, and when he suggested they go there Huilu nodded with a small smile. She looked at the storefront and wondered what magic they had used to redirect the snow.
"I do not drink much coffee either. I do not enjoy the taste and I never seem to have any lack of energy."
Huilu chuckled, but it was true. And the times Huilu did feel tired she was always able to push it aside if she had something to do.
"But more tea sounds wonderful. It warmed me up inside quite nicely."

Huilu indeed was a bit hungry, she had gotten out of bed early and had been the one to prepare the breakfast, although Eein or Whisp did usually make it. Huilu had felt the urge to do this for the young ones, especially with Eein in his current state.
"I could use some food. I would hate to feel weak and end this outing short."
Huilu had mentioned to Irso, that she got anemic easily, so he would know what she meant by weak. Huilu did not feel light-headed yet, but better be safe than sorry.
 

Lich King

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2016
633
Malazan
"If you feel to sick to walk, just let me know and I'll fly you home." Huliu would be able to tell he was completely serious about carrying her back home as his eyes were burning directly into hers and the usual smile he wore was replaced by one of minor worry. He wouldn't be able to bear the idea of Huliu getting sick all because he wanted to take a walk in the park. How would he face her family, better yet the children she looked over.

"We both have long lives to lead so don't worry about cutting our journey short."

Irso to this day couldn't determine when he was to die. He was tied to Vatar in many ways but to discern whether he would finally, truly die would require testing that he wasn't up for and neither had the stomach to commit. Huliu had explained that she had given or take 50,000 years to walk the realm of life so in truth he had no reason to worry about losing her anytime soon. Days like today would hopefully be plentiful as he grew older.

Irso looked both ways before crossing the street with Huliu toward the cafe. Even from the slight distance that they were away from the door an aroma of coffee beans, chocolate, and other fragrant foods dispersed outside and filled his nose. While the coffee wasn't much appreciated he did enjoy the lighter fragrances. The Cafe was fairly large, tunning back more then it did to the side and housed several seating areas. From Teens to adults, to undiscernable aliens, the place was wildly diverse with faces and appearances.

Moving his vision from the large glass window that'd allowed him to see inside clearly he held the door open for Huliu. Looking up at her head as she drew closer he would cheerfully say "I'm not removing your crown." he then adjusted the one on his head " And I've grown too attached to mine to let it go."

Irso ducked his head underneath the door and looked around for a place to sit. The wooden floor was freshly polished and booths and tables alike were so clean one wouldn't be able to tell is it was used or not since opening without inspection. "Wherever you feel like sitting m'lady " he chuckled a bit at that one.
 

EmiRose

The Shipping Enthusiast
Inactive
Mar 24, 2018
3,983
Finland
Posting Status
Hiatus
Irso's worry was apparent, and as Huilu looked into his eyes and saw his concern she was yet again touched. She smiled gently and nodded slightly, she didn't want to refuse Irso's heartfelt offer.
"I will let you know. But at this moment I feel fine, so do not worry."

Our journey.
The way Irso put it made Huilu's heart glow, in a metaphorical sense. It happened before Huilu realized it, and before she could stop herself from getting too sentimental. Sure Irso had not meant what she was imagining, he had merely meant they had a lot of time. Huilu could not allow herself to think of any other possibilities outside of that.
"I...will not. After all, I wish for this journey to go on for a while more."
Were they talking about this outing anymore? Who knew.

Huilu could smell all the scents from the cafe even before they crossed the street, and they warmed her inside the closer they got. The scent of coffee was slightly overwhelming, but by now Huilu had grown accustomed to it as well as many other scents that were common on the island.
Huilu thanked Irso as he kept the door open for her, and couldn't help but chuckle as he cheerfully informed her he wasn't removing the crown.
"I would not have it any other way, as it is the sign of my royalty."
Huilu said playfully, and did a small curtsy. She enjoyed being able to continue matching with Irso, and the crown was very beautiful. Even if it attracted looks from the many people in the cafe.

Being called m'lady wasn't indeed a first for Huilu, many had called her that in her younger days out of spite and ridicule. But from Irso it merely made an amused smile appear on Huilu's face, and she looked around the establishment for a place to sit. The place was quite full, but it was warm and Huilu was feeling her body warming up already.
"I believe I have found a suitable place, m'lord."
Huilu said as she spotted a table further in, that was close to the radiator, and she gestured for Irso to follow her there. When there Huilu sat down with a small sigh and began taking her outer wear off. The crown remained even when Huilu pulled off her hat, her hair was slightly messy from being under it. Under her coat Huilu had a baby blue sweater, that revealed one of her shoulders and the strap of the black tank top she had under it.
 

Lich King

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2016
633
Malazan
Irso gave a reciprocal bow to Huliu as she passed him and followed closely at her heel as she moved. People looked up from their meals and drinks at the two strange newcomers, and that was something given the island, with very close attention as her crown sparkled and he simply shined under the light from above. The place was well heated and he could feel his skin slowly start to adjust to the new temperature, a feeling he relished. This form had many minor details to which he found unnecessary in the long run but far too entertaining to pass up.

"That seems lovely," he said walking with Huliu toward the table

Hearing Huliu calls him M'lord made his ego swell as he can only imagine himself being a king of anything. He'd been a queen a few times in his life but those usually had some bloody ending to which he was the catalyst. Being a long-reigning king would be a more personal experiment then he was used to and the idea tickled him in just the right way to make his mind consider planets and dimensions primitive enough that he could slide in as their new divine ruler. If it wasn't for Huliu moving farther and farther he may have just stood there going over a plan.

As his body began to feel the effects of the heating Irso too stripped of his outer attire. He'd worn a black sweater with an orange collared shirt underneath which peaked over cleanly to display itself to the world. It was in his nature to dress in a way that if he ran into a student he could look presentable and professional. It was also part of his job as a teacher to be a potential role model for the younger generation and so if he was to pass on anything it would be the lesson of "keep a clean appearance".

Hanging his coat onto the back of his chair Irso looked over to Huliu. What followed was a feeling so foreign it almost made him react physically. It wasn't the same form of excitement he received when he studied a new creature or brought one into existence. It was something far more primal that he could only attribute to the male physiology he'd held. Huliu was a beautiful woman, something he'd said and realized many times before, but in this instance something about her beauty was new or maybe he had missed it all along.

While her attire did make him raise an eyebrow he quickly noticed that he was about to reach the range of staring and sat himself down in the cushioned chair. " I guess being an ice dragon showing off some skin won't be the end of the world in colder weather?" His eyes drifted to the strap of her tank top but swiftly shot back toward her eyes.

Why was he even looking at her strap? He wasn't trying to scare Huliu nor come off creepy so he needed to stop. That rushed through his head as he slid a small menu closer "Just be careful. If you were sick during such splendid days my stock of great walking companions would plummet."

He peered over the menu, deciding between a bagel or something more heavier.
 

EmiRose

The Shipping Enthusiast
Inactive
Mar 24, 2018
3,983
Finland
Posting Status
Hiatus
If Irso had a special reaction to Huilu's attire she did not take notice of it, as she was also draping her jacket over her chair and slipping the hat and gloves into the pockets of said jacket. She moved her hair on her other shoulder, the one that was bare, and turned to face Irso and smiled. His attire, as always, was proper and Huilu did catch herself thinking that the orange suited him. That was when Huilu observed, that Irso's eyes had been on her for longer than usual, and she began to wonder if there was something on her shirt. But that was also when Irso sat down and mentioned said shirt and attire in general, although not to say there was something wrong with it.
"Ah, yes, that would usually be the case. Unfortunately cold is a weakness of mine. Perhaps the dressing habits of my family have affected me."
Huilu chuckled, but did change the position of the sweater so it better covered her shoulders. Irso's words had made her just slightly self-conscious.

"I am honoured you have invested such great deal on me."
Huilu answered back with a chuckle, going along with the stock metaphor.
"I will do my utmost best to not make you go on walks alone. But please do the same for me, you are amongst my most liked conversation partners."
As Huilu said that she felt slightly flustered, but did not blush or avert her gaze.
Huilu did, however, look at the menu and almost immediately decided on the special ice tea she saw listed in it. On top of that she decided to a toasted sandwich, it sounded warm and delicious.
 

Lich King

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2016
633
Malazan
Casual flattery, a special skill of Huliu as the compliment brought a cheerful curl to his lips.
Looking back up at her he saw that she'd adjusted her sweater to cover her shoulder, While he was happy that she would most definitely be warmer part of him felt as if he'd done something wrong. He wasn't some taskmaster and god prodder anymore. His days of directing peoples lives to fit his agenda while not over was in a completely new format with the Teacher-Student relationship he had taken up. Being a free spirit was part of Huliu's personality so who was he to make her feel worried about the cold?

As the battle in Irso's mind concluded, finally realizing he was overthinking the whole thing most likely, he sighed in delight at the warm atmosphere. Calmly adjusting his collar Irso glanced over the menu one more time. "I think I'll get the ham and scrambled egg sandwich." He'd made the same thing himself one morning for breakfast so seeing how it compared to one served to the public would be a fun trial. As for drinks he decided to match Huliu in getting an ice tea. Irso knew of Huliu's distaste for coffee and how deep it ran. He himself hated the taste of it and found its effects to be rather feeble in his day today. "I must say i'm going to miss the snow when it melts. I've been enjoying the scenery it brings. Cold or not Manta Carlos looks beautiful covered in the snow."

He'd already acted like a child in the snow while it was still here, even when copious amounts were unendingly coming down. Building a snowman and elaborate trenches through the park was some of the most enjoyable moments he'd experienced his winter. "When it does melt though I think I may take a trip off the island, I've been meaning to look into some things while I have the opportunity."

Visiting old sites that were now labeled historic and researching into families and cultures he had seen sprout from the old world into the new would be a most pleasant adventure. His first stop would probably be Japan as the cultural people collided with the cultures of western society. After that, he'd visit the Americas and see how time had served the once vassal nations that had formed from their once superior overlords. Just thinking about it made his mind fire off a wave of joy into his system.
 

EmiRose

The Shipping Enthusiast
Inactive
Mar 24, 2018
3,983
Finland
Posting Status
Hiatus
The two finalized their orders, and the conversation moved on from Huilu's attire and health. Huilu had a lot of experience from people treating her like she was made of glass, and she was used to it. But even when Irso showed his concern over Huilu she did not feel pressured by that worry, only touched and thankful.
"Yes, I am going to miss it too. I want to say it reminds me of home, but the winter on the island is very different from the mountains. I enjoy it in itself, the snow blanketing the trees and roofs, the sight of people dressed warmly, the soothing feeling of watching the snow fall gently outside a winter."
Huilu's words were full of feeling, and she truly looked like she was going to miss all of that.

Huilu's winter had been very active as well, she had built numerous snow sculptures, her family had had snowball fights nearly weekly, and she had done a so-called "snow angel" on the ground few times. That was such a fun tradition, so make impressions on the snow with your whole body.
"Truly? It seems I am going to be void of my conversation partner for a while, then. I will miss this. But I do hope you will have a pleasant journey. Where were you planning on traveling?"
Huilu asked also for reference, because now that she actually could she was thinking of taking a trip as well. To a place she had never been to, and there were many. She wanted to see Australia and Asia, and go visit a jungle, and attempt to fly over an ocean with her own wings.
 

Lich King

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2016
633
Malazan
Irso was counting through his dollars as Huliu spoke. He'd had the full intention of paying for the meal and felt that if he got his money together fast enough then she wouldn't have the chance to object. It was the least he could do for her since he hadn't gotten her a welcome home gift. Plus it wasn't like he was struggling for cash. Combined with his old assets and his nice salary Irso made more than enough to pay for a few sandwiches.

"Japan would most likely be my first stop, then maybe India." Irso got up out of his chair. "One moment."

He made his way to the counter and ordered the two meals with a courteous greeting to the tired employee and a swift smile to a mother and what seemed to be her child picking up their drinks, hot chocolate from the smell. Handing over the exact amount, change and all, he bowed his head and took his numbered receipt.

Smoothly slipping back into his seat his mind was quick to form a though and let it pass the many checkpoints that followed before he spoke "If you were interested you'd be free to join me. The culture here is grand but to see the undiluted solution of where they originated could be inspiring for you." He let his wallet fall back into his pocket and pulled his chair in.

"That is if you're so worried about losing me as a talking companion." He laughed at the idea of raising his importance in her life. He was sure the joke could be picked up on by Huliu. "It won't be for some time though, maybe the next break the students have."
 
Forgot your password?