ic - Casual
Xiao watches the mostly silent, one sided exchange between Oliver and Cylantro. At some point on the trip across the Tourne the stranger from a strange land became aware that Oliver seemed unsettled by Cylantro. Xiao is not sure when, exactly, he realised it. One day it was jut there, as if it had been all along. From that point on, Xiao has had the feeling that there is often a subtext to Oliver's comments to the spellcaster. But what is is exactly has eluded the monk - there is too much about the language and the culture he doesn't understand well enough. Perhaps the others in the party have understood and have chosen to say nothing. Or perhaps not. Xiao gets the feeling that Oliver can be quite elusive.
Of course, Xiao could just ask Oliver. The people here are much more brazen in that regard than back home. Strangers, Xiao has discovered through his own stumbling experience, can be more brazen still by virtue of their ignorance. But the customs of his home are hard to shrug off, and Xiao decides to say nothing. Oliver will share what he wants to share when he wants to share it.
Xiao considers Cylantro. She seemed startled by Olivers question, and relieved at the change in topic. Now, once again she is sitting with her cat contentedly sleeping on her lap. Xiao occasionally imagines that it is the cat that is the master and Cylantro the spirit kin. It is madness really, Xiao has never heard of such a thing. But the thought keeps popping up now and then.
It is true that the young woman does not reveal much about herself. But then again, Xiao gets the feeling that Oliver keeps much to himself. But where Oliver hides meaning in thickets of words, Cylantro simply hides it in silence.
Xiao stands. "I get my recorder." He heads off in the same direction as Oliver, rapidly closing the distance between the two without any apparent effort. Xiao falls in alongside Oliver as they head back to their quarters.
[sblock=To Oliver]"It is strange feeling to be so close to the end. Soon we to have to make decision for ourselves again."
The monk falls silent for a moment.
"I would like to be home. Recently I have feel this more often. Perhaps it is because soon I will be free to make my own decision. It is temptation to think that staying here is hopeless, I will never find what was stolen."
Xiao sighs and shrugs.
"One day perhaps I can take that path. When I am done."[/sblock]
