As soon as Chachanji noticed the tensing of Virara's form, he was instinctively moving to put a hand on her shoulder - as if that movement alone would halt her in her steps. He was well-aware of her rather straightforward method of dealing with obstacles, though even one less in-tune with her habits would've been quick to notice her intent to simply force their way in. However, unlike such individuals, the Doman Lalafell also knew quite well that should she deign that this was the path she had to take, it would take considerably more effort than a mere staying hand on the shoulder to stop her. Such an act was merely pretense, however, as what would truly keep her from doing such things was her own conscious decision not to - perhaps colored by the thoughts and opinions of the unlikely companion that had accompanied her.
"Ah, hold--"
He had only begun the motion when she paused of her own volition, tilting her head questioningly towards him. He looked at the gloved hand, paused in mid-flight to her shoulder, and returned it to his side with an awkward chuckle. He felt it necessary to explain himself, even if it was something as simple as "I didn't wantcha ta break th' door down," however the first syllable hadn't even left his lips when something else caught their attentions. The twitching of Virara's ears were mirrored by Chachanji's own, like two hares overhearing the crackling brush beneath the paws of an oncoming fox.
The first thought that came to Chachanji's mind as the Hyur approached was of Bozu - the large, quiet man that Virara seemed rather fond of. No great surprise, considering it was picking the emptiness monk's knowledge that had started them on this trek to seek the Kuze Group to begin with. And that has still taken some considerable effort and wheedling in order to get the information out of him. A man who had apparently fallen from the Sea of Clouds - according to Gogonji's testimony - and survived such an ordeal, and yet he was wary of these people.
Such thoughts unintentionally put up the boy's hackles, and he flinched a bit at Virara's sudden question.
"A-ah, m-mebbe th' place is jus' built like tha'?" he ventured as the man approached, scratching idly at a rosy, freckled cheek with a gloved finger. "At least 'e saw us before ya let us in yerself..."
His unintended chiding drifted into awkward silence as the Hyur drew closer, not wanting to sour any goodwill by alerting the supposed greeter to the near-breaking and entering that had almost occurred. Though, any conversation he may had replaced it with would've been cut short in any case once he got a better look at the man's visage. While Bozu had apparently suffered a great fall no worse for wear, this man's face looked as if he had suffered a similar ordeal much less favorably. And landed face-first into a well-stocked armory for good measure. Not that Chachanji would voice such thoughts - both due his desire to not cause undue friction and the simple reason that doing so would just be rather mean - but his moment of surprise was given away by a widening of violet eyes and a brief downturn of his chapped lips.
If the man's eyes marked his reaction as he glanced between the pair of Lalafell at his gates, it was overshadowed by Virara's own response - his gaze lingering more on her than on him. The sympathy-raising atrocity that was his face made reading any real emotion difficult, even to someone as empathetic as Chachanji. Though, perhaps he was also well-trained in keeping his feelings masked to further stymie such attempts. Not that the friendly little Doman would consider such a thing, nor the darker reasons why one would want to keep their emotions under such careful wraps.
Instead, all he saw was a fairly friendly groundskeeper with unfortunate features stuck with the task of answering the front gate in this chilly Lominsan weather. So, when the man moved to let them in, Chachanji felt it ill-advised to keep the Hyur waiting on them. He returned the nod with one of his own before glancing to Virara.
"Well, um... shall we go? Dun wanna keep 'em waitin' if'n they know we're 'ere, right?"
"Ah, hold--"
He had only begun the motion when she paused of her own volition, tilting her head questioningly towards him. He looked at the gloved hand, paused in mid-flight to her shoulder, and returned it to his side with an awkward chuckle. He felt it necessary to explain himself, even if it was something as simple as "I didn't wantcha ta break th' door down," however the first syllable hadn't even left his lips when something else caught their attentions. The twitching of Virara's ears were mirrored by Chachanji's own, like two hares overhearing the crackling brush beneath the paws of an oncoming fox.
The first thought that came to Chachanji's mind as the Hyur approached was of Bozu - the large, quiet man that Virara seemed rather fond of. No great surprise, considering it was picking the emptiness monk's knowledge that had started them on this trek to seek the Kuze Group to begin with. And that has still taken some considerable effort and wheedling in order to get the information out of him. A man who had apparently fallen from the Sea of Clouds - according to Gogonji's testimony - and survived such an ordeal, and yet he was wary of these people.
Such thoughts unintentionally put up the boy's hackles, and he flinched a bit at Virara's sudden question.
"A-ah, m-mebbe th' place is jus' built like tha'?" he ventured as the man approached, scratching idly at a rosy, freckled cheek with a gloved finger. "At least 'e saw us before ya let us in yerself..."
His unintended chiding drifted into awkward silence as the Hyur drew closer, not wanting to sour any goodwill by alerting the supposed greeter to the near-breaking and entering that had almost occurred. Though, any conversation he may had replaced it with would've been cut short in any case once he got a better look at the man's visage. While Bozu had apparently suffered a great fall no worse for wear, this man's face looked as if he had suffered a similar ordeal much less favorably. And landed face-first into a well-stocked armory for good measure. Not that Chachanji would voice such thoughts - both due his desire to not cause undue friction and the simple reason that doing so would just be rather mean - but his moment of surprise was given away by a widening of violet eyes and a brief downturn of his chapped lips.
If the man's eyes marked his reaction as he glanced between the pair of Lalafell at his gates, it was overshadowed by Virara's own response - his gaze lingering more on her than on him. The sympathy-raising atrocity that was his face made reading any real emotion difficult, even to someone as empathetic as Chachanji. Though, perhaps he was also well-trained in keeping his feelings masked to further stymie such attempts. Not that the friendly little Doman would consider such a thing, nor the darker reasons why one would want to keep their emotions under such careful wraps.
Instead, all he saw was a fairly friendly groundskeeper with unfortunate features stuck with the task of answering the front gate in this chilly Lominsan weather. So, when the man moved to let them in, Chachanji felt it ill-advised to keep the Hyur waiting on them. He returned the nod with one of his own before glancing to Virara.
"Well, um... shall we go? Dun wanna keep 'em waitin' if'n they know we're 'ere, right?"
~