03.Jun.13, 05:57 PM
Warkhim wasn't doing anything particularly threatening, just sitting there talking to her. Her warning bells started calming down, and her muscles relaxed a bit. He'd done nothing except query her on her work, talk about his wine, talk about where he worked... it was all perfectly innocuous. She was starting to feel stupid about being on the alert in the first place. Kira certainly still believed that he had no right to that wine, whatever story he came up with, but she couldn't challenge a Master Harper. But in the grand scheme of things, a little wine thievery was small tubers in the crimes that he could be committing right now.
Her work was done, really, at this point. It wouldn't hurt to sit around and let the man talk about whatever he wanted. There was no threat there that Kira could discern. He was no longer using his height to loom, nor was he any more rude than any other man towards her. When Warkhim offered the bottle to sniff, she took it cautiously and carefully, not wanting to drop it. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. It was lovely! She offered it back, surprised at it, lisening to his words. At the very least, she would learn something about wine at this rate. Kira drank like the other drudges - at every Feast and Gather, and whatever it was usually had been watered down some.
It didn't surprise her in the least that this Harper knew more about wine than she did, nor that he'd have tasted and had access to better wines. He was intelligent enough, certainly, and privileged enough. Another wave of disappointment ran through her about the library. Perhaps she'd sneak in a few days later. Undoubtedly he'd have forgotten about her and would be far too busy regardless to bother with her.
Kira let him jabber on about his family. She didn't give a care who his mother was (though knowing her relation made Kira extra-sure that she never wanted to have to speak out against Warkhim), but was willing to stand there and let him talk out whatever he wanted to. He blabbered so! It was actually amusing her that he thought she cared, and her smile was bright with the thought. Unthinkingly, she took the glass of wine when offered, feeling safe and silly for having assumed that he had dishonorable intentions. The scent made her close her eyes at how lovely it was, better than the blackberry she had discerned when it was in the bottle. She opened them to watch him take a swallow.
And then the wine was offered to her. Kira hesitated a moment, then decided it wouldn't hurt. She barely wet her tongue with it, not feeling any need to drink it. But a surprised whoosh of air went past her lips at how fine a flavor it was. She no longer blamed Warkhim for nipping a bottle of this! Kira would have been tempted to do the same. Kira handed it back again, not wanting to have any more. If she got caught drinking it... "V-very f-f-fine." It was an admission she made without hesitation. "Surely ther-re is someone w-willing to share it with y-you at the Arch-chives." It was a small urging for him to leave and find a drinking partner, someone who would be better company than she really had any desire to be. Kira might not be afraid of him anymore, but even so she only had so much patience for the man.
As it was, she was feeling ready to retire, herself. A good number of strands of hair now framed her face, having escaped her braid. She reached back to undo it, letting her hair flow free down her back. Wrapping the tie around her wrist Kira grinned at Warkhim. "Know a f-few p-pretties who w-w-would enjoy the comp-pany of-f such a h-handsome Harper. Perhaps w-w-would enjoy one?" She meant it as a succor for his desire for company. It was true - she did know more than a few drudges who would have happily joined him drinking and in bed. If Warkhim wanted it, then she'd go to find one as soon as possible. And then, perhaps, she'd be allowed to return to her own room!
Her work was done, really, at this point. It wouldn't hurt to sit around and let the man talk about whatever he wanted. There was no threat there that Kira could discern. He was no longer using his height to loom, nor was he any more rude than any other man towards her. When Warkhim offered the bottle to sniff, she took it cautiously and carefully, not wanting to drop it. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. It was lovely! She offered it back, surprised at it, lisening to his words. At the very least, she would learn something about wine at this rate. Kira drank like the other drudges - at every Feast and Gather, and whatever it was usually had been watered down some.
It didn't surprise her in the least that this Harper knew more about wine than she did, nor that he'd have tasted and had access to better wines. He was intelligent enough, certainly, and privileged enough. Another wave of disappointment ran through her about the library. Perhaps she'd sneak in a few days later. Undoubtedly he'd have forgotten about her and would be far too busy regardless to bother with her.
Kira let him jabber on about his family. She didn't give a care who his mother was (though knowing her relation made Kira extra-sure that she never wanted to have to speak out against Warkhim), but was willing to stand there and let him talk out whatever he wanted to. He blabbered so! It was actually amusing her that he thought she cared, and her smile was bright with the thought. Unthinkingly, she took the glass of wine when offered, feeling safe and silly for having assumed that he had dishonorable intentions. The scent made her close her eyes at how lovely it was, better than the blackberry she had discerned when it was in the bottle. She opened them to watch him take a swallow.
And then the wine was offered to her. Kira hesitated a moment, then decided it wouldn't hurt. She barely wet her tongue with it, not feeling any need to drink it. But a surprised whoosh of air went past her lips at how fine a flavor it was. She no longer blamed Warkhim for nipping a bottle of this! Kira would have been tempted to do the same. Kira handed it back again, not wanting to have any more. If she got caught drinking it... "V-very f-f-fine." It was an admission she made without hesitation. "Surely ther-re is someone w-willing to share it with y-you at the Arch-chives." It was a small urging for him to leave and find a drinking partner, someone who would be better company than she really had any desire to be. Kira might not be afraid of him anymore, but even so she only had so much patience for the man.
As it was, she was feeling ready to retire, herself. A good number of strands of hair now framed her face, having escaped her braid. She reached back to undo it, letting her hair flow free down her back. Wrapping the tie around her wrist Kira grinned at Warkhim. "Know a f-few p-pretties who w-w-would enjoy the comp-pany of-f such a h-handsome Harper. Perhaps w-w-would enjoy one?" She meant it as a succor for his desire for company. It was true - she did know more than a few drudges who would have happily joined him drinking and in bed. If Warkhim wanted it, then she'd go to find one as soon as possible. And then, perhaps, she'd be allowed to return to her own room!