It had been some suns since his encounter with Ozmama in the streets and Nono had every intention of finding her again soon. But in the meantime, he had plans. He stood up from his bed in the Inn at the Quicksand and grimaced a bit, the pain in his knee incredibly oppressive today. His joints ached, especially when it was going to rain, something about the humidity that worked its way into his system. He stretched his leg out slowly, wincing a bit and then stood.Â
Sighing, he limped across the room to the dresser and grabbed his black tunic. He hated it. Reminded him of his spoiled brother. But he wanted to blend in a bit, and wandering around the city with mage robes tended to draw attention.
Unwanted attention.
No, today he was going to start draw attention in a different way. A way he could try and control. It was like fishing. If he could lure his brother out, then it would all be worth it.
His knee ached and he stretched it. If Ruru'd just had the damned courtesy to have died that day, he wouldn't be in this predicament. Nono looked into the mirror and breathed. It was time to put on his mask. He smiled happily and nodded.
There it was. His false face. The smile was the lie, a way to break the ice with others, with those he felt he could use. And today he would use this smile on the blonde barmaid.
Aya. That was her name. He'd spent a few days ascertaining that with overheard conversations in the Quicksand. Had watched men and women come and go and engage with her. She'd been the one Ruru had talked to.
So today, Nono decided he would have a chat with her and set things into motion. He laughed, his high pitched, child-like voice masking the contempt he had; the contempt for Ruru. The spoiled brat who couldn't see couldn't see the bigger picture if it was right in front of him.
And if getting to him meant playing a game with his friends, then so be it. He nodded and then stepped out of the room, eager to find the woman.
Sighing, he limped across the room to the dresser and grabbed his black tunic. He hated it. Reminded him of his spoiled brother. But he wanted to blend in a bit, and wandering around the city with mage robes tended to draw attention.
Unwanted attention.
No, today he was going to start draw attention in a different way. A way he could try and control. It was like fishing. If he could lure his brother out, then it would all be worth it.
His knee ached and he stretched it. If Ruru'd just had the damned courtesy to have died that day, he wouldn't be in this predicament. Nono looked into the mirror and breathed. It was time to put on his mask. He smiled happily and nodded.
There it was. His false face. The smile was the lie, a way to break the ice with others, with those he felt he could use. And today he would use this smile on the blonde barmaid.
Aya. That was her name. He'd spent a few days ascertaining that with overheard conversations in the Quicksand. Had watched men and women come and go and engage with her. She'd been the one Ruru had talked to.
So today, Nono decided he would have a chat with her and set things into motion. He laughed, his high pitched, child-like voice masking the contempt he had; the contempt for Ruru. The spoiled brat who couldn't see couldn't see the bigger picture if it was right in front of him.
And if getting to him meant playing a game with his friends, then so be it. He nodded and then stepped out of the room, eager to find the woman.
