Fishy Reading [Ell]

[Mali]

Mali didn’t want to make them feel sorry for her. That wasn’t her intention at all. He had asked a simple question and the first part of what she had said was the only way that she could answer him. What followed afterwards was a moment of weakness. She wanted to be able to trust Niko and Arashi. It would be nice to have at least one friend for once. She was tired of being alone all the time. Maybe that wasn’t what her race was like, seeing as she hadn’t found any so far, but she wanted company. Maybe her human mother made her to desire company instead of solace. Either way, she felt that telling him was the right thing to do. Friends confided in each other, right?

As Arashi spoke to her, she thought about what he said. Wasn’t she a cat though? Even if she was a magical creature, she was still a cat. She was about to ask where they believed that the werecats may be. They seemed to know more about this than she did, which was pathetic. Mali was stopped short before she could ask when Niko said he agreed. They were sympathizing with her. She hadn’t meant to make them feel sorry for her. She was watching Niko as he started to cut the carrots before noticing that he had smiled warmly to her. He was a friendly person; she was glad that he had saved her from the guards.

Her mind wandered off a bit before she was brought back at the words of ‘home’. He was offering for her to call this villa her home? Her face flushed a bit at such a kind gesture. The children that would sneak the ‘cat’ into the house never intended for her to stay since they knew that their parents would find out and get rid of her. This was entirely different to her. No one had ever offered her temporary shelter like this. She wanted to accept the offer, but she remembered that this wasn’t just Niko she would be living with. Like when she intruded in Niko’s mind, this place belonged to Arashi just as much as it did Niko. It would be rude.

As if Arashi knew what she were thinking, he told her that it wouldn’t be an inconvenience for her to stay with them. Pausing for a moment, not sure, how she should thank them for the hospitality, she wondered if she should even accept the offer. She just showed up out of nowhere, had Niko pay for stolen goods, and now had guilt tripped him into offering her a house. Mali didn’t want to see it that way. However, would Niko see it that way? She didn’t want him to feel obligated to offer her a place here and she didn’t want him to hold resentment toward her for it either.

”Thank you for the offer. I would appreciate you both welcoming me into your home.” There was still so much that she wanted to say before the matter was pushed aside. ”Even though you say it isn’t an inconvenience, I didn’t mean to guilt you into it,” Mali fiddled with the hem of her cloak, which sat in her lap now. She was embarrassed now. What she had said could have sounded exactly like she was trying to guilt them. ”It just came out, I’m sorry.” It was good that Mali was telling them that none of this was intent from the beginning. It had just happened. The worst thing for her right now, was for them to think that she was trying to play them into something. They also knew that she was a thief, she didn’t want them to suspect her of fowl play.

Mali smiled a bit, thinking that she had a place to call home now, even if it was temporary. The last time she had a home was with her mother. That had been so long ago.

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[Elloria]

Niko set his knife down and moved to another cupboard to pull out a cooking stick, a pot, and a tea kettle. He was using quite a bit of water today, wasn't he? Ah, well. It wasn't such a terrible thing. Company was nice to have, he reflected. Sometimes it was difficult to believe his life had been so solitary before Arashi's hatching. He plopped the stick down by the fire and the kettle on the counter before starting towards the garden. He paused as Mali tried to explain that she wasn't trying to take advantage of them. He felt Arashi's inquiring mind poking at him, asking what a ‘guilt trip’ was. He had snatched the term from Mali’s mind and was curious. The hatchling had never heard of it before and for good reason. It wasn't something that Niko did and he had never taught his hatchling to do it either. ‘Essentially, one person makes another feel guilty for not helping and thereby manipulates the individual into helping out. Humans in particular frequently use this tactic, though elves are not above using it. WE do not,’ he added firmly. He smiled at Mali. “You didn’t guilt me into anything. I have never enjoyed watching others suffer, especially if I know there is something I can do to aid them.” He went out into the garden to put some water in the pot he held.

Arashi snorted and began inspecting his scales. Yes, Niko did have a...what did the two-legs call it? A bleeding heart? Yes, that was it. Niko had a bleeding heart. Always one to give some money or food to the beggars, always defending helpless two-legs like Mali when they were being attacked, always being so damn noble. Arashi didn't know whether to be pleased about that or disgusted. It was all well and good to help those less fortunate - that was what most Riders lived for it seemed - but sometimes one just had to let nature and circumstance thin the herd. His barbed, bright red tongue darted out to lap at his leg, a slight scraping being made as he sought to make himself gleam. As he studiously cleaned himself, he broadcast his thoughts. ‘I do not really understand this concept of guilt. I have never felt guilty for acting the way I do, nor do I regret any actions I have taken in the past. If I choose not to help an individual, I doubt there is a force in the world that will convince me to change my mind. Particularly if the force is attempting to appeal to my emotions. There’s no need to let two-legs or four-legs turn into leeches simply because one cannot say no to some sob story. I am not fighting Niko’s decision because there is potential in you and that is usually worth nurturing. No more, no less.’

Niko shook his head as he returned with the half-filled pot. “Always the blunt one, you are.” Arashi eyed him before returning to cleaning. Niko snorted. He poured some of the water into the kettle, then set the pot down and placed the vegetables in it. Finding a lid, he covered it and set pot and kettle next to the fire. He rather liked the thought of steamed vegetables with delois tea and the fire was finally hot enough to cook. He grabbed the stick, speared the fish with it and buried one end into the sand around the fire pit so that the fish hung over the flames to cook. Now all there was left to do was wait for it to cook. He grabbed two cups and set them down on the table before taking a seat across from Mali. “So what brings you to Ilirea?” he asked.