The Earthshaker

[Karin]

Karin shook her head in disbelief, she just asked him to be more polite and then he sat down like nothing happened. Well, she didn't hate him though, at least he wasn't evil or dangerous. This man seemed interested to her stories like a child, like Kaia. "I feel like a mother." She thought as she glanced at Kaia and Robert.

Karin wanted to ask about the recruiters but the mood wouldn't allow to ask such things. She scratched the back of her head and sighed, smiling afterwards. "Well. Alright, if you insist." Karin grabbed Kaia's small hand and took her to the bed, sitting her on her lap again.

"Actually, pirates wouldn't make a good story," she said. Karin stared to Robert's eyes then directed her gaze towards Kaia, hoping he understood the signal, he was an adult and also a soldier after all. Pirates wouldn't be a good story for children, it involved killing each other. But she wouldn't tell her about that though.

"Imagine it. You see a pirate ship coming towards yours. The Captain then shouted telling us to get ready." She started to speak. "I was on that ship, that was my first encounter with pirates, but I didn't feel happy for that. I quickly grabbed my lance and prepared myself." She brushed Kaia's hair, she always liked doing this. "In the middle of battle, I fell into the sea after I tried to dodge a bullet, the water was cold, very cold, and salty as well."

"My armor was heavy so I was drowned, I tried to stay awake but the water entered my lungs and I lost my consciousness. When I woke up, I was already on the ship, in my cabin. My subordinates watched over me, I felt happy but also embarrassed." She giggled as she remembered how awkward it was to find twenty people watching her sleeping.

[Robert Huxley]

The look Karin gave him was not left unnoticed. How could it have been, the way he was so focused on her lips...not in that way mind you, he was just that focused on whatever it was she was saying, as he was a little bit depressed that he wasn't getting the details, but nonetheless when the elven child's head was turned away, the Eastern Relingite gave Karin a wink as she then began telling her abridged tale, eyes moving up and down from her lips to her eyes to her ears as he nodded and took whatever was being said in.

"You know, I had a similar experience once, though hardly as exciting...I won't bore you with the details, but it involves a creek and a runaway wagon." actually he just fell in and, at that time, didn't know how to swim. (at five years old.)

[Karin]

"So you had been drowned too. I bet that wasn't a pleasant experience." Karin turned her head to Robert, smiling at him. She still wanted to ask "Actually, why are you here in female dorm?" But, this man didn't look dangerous, he looked more like a honest soldier than a dangerous person. Karin decided to let him stay here, as long as he didn't possess any danger. Well, he would look dangerous in different meaning if Karin noticed him looking at her lips and ears.

"Well, that moment gave me funny experience. I lost my first kiss to a sailor in that ship because he gave me CPR." Karin giggled and hugged Kaia even tighter. She looked disappointed a bit. "It was a little sad though, I always hoped it was a man I loved who would get it." Well, she didn't have any for now, she never had boyfriend either because she was always too focused to her duty. She also never noticed when men tried to approach her.

[Robert Huxley]

"Oh no it wasn't, I know whatcha mean." he looked up from her lips to her eyes, noting how different the eye color was from the usual...well what he had seen from where he came from that is. Then she went on to talk about kissing and all that, and he just stared at her mouth for a moment, then back to girl on her lap, then to her eyes again once she was done, and then he:

Shrugged. It was simple really, as he said nothing for awhile, moving a bit to his left, moving just a bit away,"Didn't count." this was followed by another shrug," That there's CPR, hardly the same as a kiss. Heck, if anything, you've got nothin' to worry 'bout! Now you see, with a real kiss:" He stood up, and turned to face the two," A real kiss would be after taking the girl ya love, or man in your case (unless you elves work differently...), first out to a night of dancing." with this, he assumed a waltzing position as if he was with someone, and moved about the room in a comical fashion, to amuse the little girl elf.

A spin later, he extended a hand out to the elf he assumed was around his age, with a cheery smile," Assuming you know how, that is." he didn't go dancing much. Heck, he only took classes with his good friend Jessie, (oddly enough he didn't realize the ulterior motive on that one.) He didn't really know what was needed for a proper kiss, but CPR didn't qualify as one.

[Karin]

"Yeah, but still..." Karin paused as Robert stood up and started to explain what the kiss was. She wanted to close Kaia's ears but it was too late, and she knew she was the one who started this topic. But his dancing performance made her smile, she had to admit that this man was interesting. "I don't think it will need a dance but perhaps CPR really doesn't count as a kiss," she said, smiling. She felt relieved a bit.

Karin stared at his hand. "Kaia, could you move?" She moved the little elf from her lap and stood up to take Robert's hand. "Are you mocking me? Of course I know." She smiled to him and walked closer toward him. Karin looked at his eyes for a moment before guiding his hand to her waist and circling his neck with her other hand. "The question is, do you know?" She challenged him to take the lead.

[Robert Huxley]

Robert smirked as she guided his hand down, it'd been awhile since he'd danced. A year and a half or so was it? Not like he was about to admit he was rusty that is, as he stepped forward, thus initiating the dancing. Admittedly he was nervous on his feet, constantly looking down to make sure he wouldn't step on her feet, though he soon got back into the swing of things-

Speaking of which: it was time for the spin. Now in theory all he had to do was move himself down this way, extending his hand out as his Karin then would...

Of course that was in theory. In reality, he stumbled in his movements, and fell over, releasing her so as to not drag her down with him as he landed on his backside. He just lay there for a awhile, looking out at the gown wearing maiden as he sat up and rubbed his back: landing on, let alone dancing with a shotgun on your back wasn't the best idea. Sticking to just staying put on the floor, he gave a shrug for his situation, though deep down he felt shamed and embarrassed:

"Well...after that, you'd take the girl, or guy in your case (Again, dunno how you Elves work.) you apparently take them out to dinner. After that Pa always told me not to come home until the next morning, followed by a nudge to the shoulder. SO after that I usually just walk them home, then wander around with those spare hours of time I have, then get back to work for the next month or so...wait-where does the kiss come in...?" a hand went to his chin as he rose to his feet, and a shrug was soon followed.

[Kaia]

Kaia looked around shiftily. Watching Karin's back and forth was amusing, but her eyelids felt heavier than a sword made of lead. "Erm, I'm going to go off to bed, but don't do anything you wouldn't do if I were still here!" she said with a giggle. She knew Karin was not rash, but... A human, how could she resist a human? She hugged Karin quickly and ran from the room, heading fora spare room down the hall.

The little elf entered the dusty room and shook the covers, freeing the debris of neglect from its fibers. She sighed and sat down on the bed. After taking off her shoes and cloak, she swung her legs back on to the bed and laid down under the covers. The young elf's mind raced, thinking constantly of the land of ice. I will leave tomorrow. Something is calling me to the mountains. With or without Karin, I will leave this place behind. With images of learning how to bend ice to her will dancing in her head, Kaia fell into a deep sleep.

[Karin]

Karin managed to keep her balance when Robert fell down, he released her right before she was about dragged down. "Robert, are you alright?" She wanted to extend her hand to help him but he began speaking again before she could do that. Karin just sighed and crossed her arms as she heard him talking about his kissing method. Suddenly, Karin laughed, it was rare to see her laughing like this in front of a stranger, and Robert's status was still as stranger. Karin thought him funny, his story made her laugh, even her tears flowing out. Her hand covered her mouth as she tried to control herself.

"In the end, you never got a kiss, didn't you?" She said.

Kaia hugged her and then left the room to sleep after saying something about what Karin shouldn't do when the little elf was away. "What would we do?" That question left unanswered as Kaia left them alone in her room. Karin didn't understand what she wanted to tell her and just said, "Good night."

Karin turned toward Robert with a smile. "Well, Robert, want to go eat dinner with me?" She asked. But then she remembered something and moved closer to him, she whispered to his ear, "If you want to go, we will leave from the back door. Someone is waiting for me in the front entrance."

[Robert Huxley]

"Nope. Though I'm sure it involves dinner and dancing" He gave a shrug as he watched kaia leave the room," Well, THAT would probably be...well...you know: going to dinne-" she beat him to it, it seems. Only she was proposing they go out and do it. Dinner that is. He fidgeted a bit at the proposition, then at the whispering in his ear. Was there a need for the whispering?

"Well, I doubt leavin' would be a good idear considering what happened if mah captain found us out, but...heck I've snuck out of the house before, this shouldn't be any different!" he gave her a smile before waving a hand to the aforementioned door, "Ladies first...that and I don't know what's around..."

[Karin]

OoC: You could timeskip to morning if you want, Kaia^^

"Don't worry. I can handle your captain. I just need to mention my family name." Karin smiled and walked toward the door and...

"And I think you said someone was waiting for you..." A man suddenly appeared and stood in front of them. He seemed annoyed and tapped his foot with his arms crossed. This man had overheard their conversation, nothing could escape his long pointy ears. "And where would you go, my lady?" He said, smirking. Karin was surprised and stumbled backward, bumping to Robert. Thankfully, they didn't fall.

"Jason, how could you...?" Karin didn't expect her bodyguard to come into the dorm to look for her. After watching him for a moment, she sighed and gave up. "Alright. I will go home now." The man, still smiling, nodded and moved from the door. This man was Jason, her father's bodyguard. But now he was assigned to guard Karin until she left to Lyarburg. "Yes, my lady. I believe you need rest for tomorrow. You would have a voyage tomorrow."

Karin looked back at Robert. "Forgive me. But it seems we can't dinner together now." Karin shrugged and smiled. "But I got a feeling that our paths will cross again someday." They would probably meet again tomorrow. "Until then, good bye." Karin smiled to him and began walking toward the exit, leaving the room and Robert. Jason followed her afterward.

Karin and Jason left the academy and headed toward the Alencia Family house.

[Kaia]

Morning dawned over the forest. Its pure light filtered through the canopy, painting all with a greenish tint. Kaia was already up and moving, as she had been for a while. She was double-checking her bag, making sure she had everything she needed for the long journey. She threw the bag over her shoulder and headed to the house of Alencia.

"Could you give this my Lady Karin for me, please?" she asked a guard. She handed him a letter, sealed with wax, and smiled. "Just give me a few moments to leave. I have a feeling I must do this alone, but... I would enjoy her company... If she wants to find me, my destination is in the letter." With another quick smile, she bounded off through the woods, and to adventure. Using a compass, she started to weave her way north. When she got out of the wood, she would be able to re-orient herself to her destination: the Arkaline Mountains.