expiationnet | [video]

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Whoa, this thing is weird, but I guess I'll give it a shot.

[Rin brushes back some of her hair in an attempt to look presentable to those who could see her. Although, she was unsure about the trinket in her hand, she tries her best to attempt to communicate to those who were here. Maybe she would see the people that she met along the way? Either way, right now, she's settled nicely in one of the inn rooms, with her usual, friendly smile.]

Hi all! My name is Rin. I'll keep this short -- but if you guys are interested in a sparring partner, let me know! I probably shouldn't spill my secrets so openly, but I work for a rebel group back home and used to train people during the war. I have experience with training, so if you need that, I'm open to it! As for sparring; I use my katana. There's some lightning magic that I use with my katana, but to keep the fight fair, I can, you know, not use that.

If anyone is interested, please get back to me!

[There's a pause, and a friendly hum.]

Oh yeah, if you want a meal, feel free to stop by my room at the inn.

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[There is something to be said about spilling one's secrets. Kisara agrees that it would be wiser to be a little careful about what one chooses to say about themselves, but... Well. How else can one foster trust? Something has to give eventually. And a little here and there shouldn't do too much harm.]

It would be a good idea for those of us with combat experience have a way of keeping those skills sharp. We haven't needed to use them yet, but that doesn't mean we won't. Maybe we should see if the town might give us a designated area for that? They had the arena during the festival, after all.

[A training area... She can't say it doesn't appeal to her.]

Is there an arena? I seemed to have missed it during the festival! ... Then again, I was off eating as much food as I could to drown my sorrows away.

[Rin can't help but note Kisara through the charm. She was definitely built like a warrior, and it captures her attention. Hand resting on her chin, as she leans forward with a smile.]

I wonder if they'll let us use this arena... I mean, I don't want to ruin their crops out on the fields, you know?

[She pauses, then regards Kisara with a soft hum.]

I take it your a warrior of sorts? You look built.

They were having some competitions there. Archery. Combat, I think. But it seems like the space they had cleared to hold that might have been temporary. I haven't seen the same area again, so it was probably just for their celebration. If that's true, there might be some benefit in trying to present ideas on why they should just leave it up for some of us to use when we're feeling the need to train.

[Kisara's fine just going out into the meadowlands, but she wouldn't hate having a designated area to make that happen. Viscint had the training grounds and though her feelings on home are very conflicted at the moment, there's no denying the practicality it presented. At Rin's question, she tips her head.

'Warrior' isn't how she'd put it, but she can understand why anyone would think so.]

I'm pretty good with combat. I was a guardsman back home. Protection, mostly, for the people and for the lord I served.

[And just saying it digs a little deeper into her. Deeper than she'd like it to. It's going to take a long time to figure out how to break that habit.]

That sounds like a good idea. I wonder who we could talk to, to get them to bring back the area. It would be good for warriors like us, and it's not like they wouldn't be entertained by a good fight.

[She makes a mental note to see what she can get out of the villagers. Probably not much, given that they're still recovering from the spoils of their festival, but she would most definitely ask when they weren't all hung over, or cleaning up.]

Oh, that's pretty neat. I kind of do that sort of work? Not for any lord, but for the refugees back home.

[She notes the 'was' though. She wants to pry, she really does because she's nosy like that, but she decides against it.]

So what do you use as a weapon, Miss? You seem like a strong lady, so I'm curious.

[Kisara doesn't bother to correct her, though feels the title 'warrior' doesn't really suit in her case. If she'd done that regularly, she could understand, but her life as a guardsmen gave her a period of time and life that was probably filled with a great deal more luxury than a warrior was ever inclined to get.]

I use a shield. And a mace.

[Not just a shield, however. She's not going to show it because it seems very unlikely that the charm they've been given by the locals would do it justice, but it's an immensely impressive piece. The fact that she's arrived with it at all brings her a sense of comfort. Not because she's aching for a fight, but because it allows her to do what she's best at here—protecting other people.]

It's not very graceful, but it is effective.

Oh shit. That's sweet! I'd love to see you in action sometime! It's really rare for people in my world to use maces, let alone shields.

[Forgive her. There's a spark in her eyes upon Kisara revealing what she uses. She clasps her hands in utter delight, and grins a bit too widely. She's a bit excited. It didn't help that Kisara looked cool as hell.]

I mean, if it works it works, right? No need to be graceful!

[She brushes her hair back, and adjusts the charm so that Kisara can see her katana up close. It looks evil, and the weapon looks like it's pulsating darkness, but.]

This is my beauty... It looks evil, but it's not.

[Kisara laughs modestly. She doesn't doubt that Rin will see her in action eventually. If not that, then she'll be maintaining her equipment, and rarely is Kisara seen without her armour in some way. One never knows when they need to be aptly prepared for the unexpected, after all.

She must not become complacent in this place.

When Rin shows off her katana, the description is apt. It looks like the kind of weapon that one probably shouldn't touch. Maybe a bit like that sword Alphen carries. Except dark instead of fire.]

You must be very quick and precise.

[In other words, a combat weakness of Kisara's given how slow she can be. She has heavy hits, but she can't match the speed of someone without the additional weight holding them down.]

I am. Honestly, my fighting style is probably fitting for how I am... I like to charge head first, without much of a thought. Ehe... But you must hit really hard if given the opportunity. I would definitely not like to get hit with a mace.

[She scratches her cheek sheepishly, not being able to help but laugh at her own stupidity. Maybe she could learn a thing or two from Kisara; she appeared level-headed and calm. Something that Rin was just not.]

I could learn to be a bit less hot-headed and calmer. It would probably make me into a better fighter.

[Despite her happy demeanor, she knew what her short comings were. She wasn't scared to admit it, even though it made her feel a bit uncomfortable to admit it. Still, there was something about Kisara that made her feel like she could be honest.]

[Kisara looks sympathetic. From her limited time with Alphen and Law, she can say that Rin's personality and combat style likely would mesh with theirs very well. But when it comes to the two in question, it's much of the reason why Kisara's own particular skill set came into practicality.]

Everyone has different strengths and talents. If you're fighting alongside others, they can help you where you may have weak spots. The same applies on the reverse. You may think yourself to be irrational, but that might come in handy one day, depending on the exchange. Knowing when to use that and when not to is important.

[It's time, circumstance, and patience. Some of those things require practise and refining. It's certainly not an overnight change.]

[MOM... What she says resonates with her. It's something that one of her Dads would say, and for a short moment, it makes her miss home. But, it's only for that short moment, before she perks up again with a rather big, but genuine smile that fills her heart with happiness. She always thought it was a weakness, and considering it a strength was something that never crossed her mind.]

You articulate well, Miss. Thank you for the encouragement... It hasn't crossed my mind that it may come in handy to my partners in crime. But I'll try and remember that, when the time comes.

[She pauses, realizing that she's never caught Kisara's name.]

Oh, I never caught your name, Miss!

I don't think anyone's ever said that to me before.

[She looks just a touch embarrassed, but in a pleasant way, if such a thing is even possible. She'd like to be able to do that more often. Maybe this is just one of those rare situations where it was so easy to be honest that it simply flowed out of her. If only all of her conversation points could come out so seamlessly and smooth.

Before she's tempted to explain precisely that, she laughs. It's a short-lived sound, but genuine.]

I'm Kisara. It's good to meet you!

Honestly, I would have thought you were an inspiration speaker or something with how well you speak. I may need to reach out to you more often for encouragement! It's... Nice. Nostalgic, actually. You kind of remind me of my Dad when he gives encouragement to those around him. He's good at bringing up the morale.

[Rin does notice the slight bit of embarrassment, but doesn't speak on it. Due to her own honestly, she had a tendency to either make people embarrassed or angry, so she's happy that it isn't the latter. It's enough to make her smile again, followed by a sweet laugh that leaves her lips. Her hand brushing back some of her hair, as she leaves behind a ghost of a sincere smile.]

Kisara... That's a beautiful name. It's an honor to meet you.

[Kisara laughs rather shamelessly.]

No, no. Definitely nothing like that. Sometimes everything comes out just the way I want it to, but that's not common enough that I'd expect it. No one else who knows me I think would expect it either. But it does sound like your father and I might have some things in common. Sometimes the best words come from an objective party. It's easy for us to get locked inside of ourselves. Sometimes we need that outside opinion. Just to bring us back to where we are.

[She's quick to do away with the compliments. Not to outright dismiss them, because that's just not the way to handle that, but maybe that she just doesn't know how to handle that kind of praise. It's one thing to be praised over her fishing skills or her combat. Anything outside of that is a little something else.]

That said, I might not be the best at grand speeches, but I am really good at fishing, and I'm not too bad with cooking and tailoring either. So maybe I can make up for whatever I can't say with those things.

You two certainly do have a way with words! There's a lot of conviction behind your voice, and it's both inspiring and impressive, Kisara.

[She wonders how Kisara was like back home, but she decides against asking her. If only because she hardly knows Kisara, and doesn't want to pry too much. Although, whoever Kisara does work with, or whoever she's around? Rin considers them lucky. If only because having someone like her would certainly boost morale back in her world.]

Oh! I'm pretty good with cooking too, but the last time I cooked something, I used too much spice and everyone nearly died.

[Oh no. Why does that sound familiar.]

I do want to learn how to fish sometime. Maybe I can learn from the master, herself?

[Gossssshhhhh. Kisara flushes just a touch more, shifting a little. Not because she's uncomfortable. Mostly because she simply has no idea how to handle that kind of complimentary way of speaking. One could say that exposure makes it easier, but she has to question that a touch. No way to know just yet for sure.]

Alphen's going to just love you. [She breaks in and after a pause, she continues.] He's a friend from home. He loves spicy food, to my understanding. Like, way more than most people should probably like spicy food.

[In short, evidently food inedible for everyone but him.]

That aside, when it comes to fishing, I can teach you everything I know. Everything I learned came from my brother. He'd love knowing that I was passing it along to others.

Oh! So you're a friend of Alphen's? I've met him already, actually! We won a spice challenge together, and I think we scared off one of the vendors since we weren't running away from the spice.

[Although the spice made her skin turn red, and burnt off her lips, she certainly was able to hold her own against that challenge. It was a fun one indeed.]

Oh good! I'm no good at fishing, but I want to learn so I can independently get food for myself here. I know the locals are... Very kind and giving with what they have, but I can't always depend on the locals. Gotta learn for myself, too.

[She utters a laugh. A spice challenge? Oh, dear. She can't even be surprised by that realisation. Of course he got himself involved with that. Probably won, too, if she has to hazard a guess. At least he seems to be in good company with Rin. Finally, he can share food with someone else who can actually withstand it.]

Somehow, I'm not surprised to hear that at all. Good for him. Good for both of you!

[With a hand poised at her chin, she nods along. It is important to be self-sufficient, which she doesn't need to say. Kisara is, by her circumstances, required to be so. Has been required to be so. Despite the luxuries of Viscint, she can't say she's complacent by them. After all, before Dohalim came into power, things weren't like that. Survival is in her blood.]

It's just practise. That's all. I think a lot of people might overthink it and that's kind of the first habit that should be broken.

That's true! I'm sure it just takes practice and a flick of the wrist.

[I guess if it came down to it, she could hunt fish with a throwing spear or something. Her accuracy was pretty high in that regard, but learning how to fish would be great to add to her set of skills. Especially if Kisara was willing to teach her, which does make her happy. She smiles happily at the prospect, before perking up a bit more.]

When are you available for lessons?

Hm...!

[It's not exactly as if she's got a set routine since she's arrived. Well, maybe in a way she does. She gets up to greet the dawn, wanders around the town to see who might need help, makes a list of materials needed or other like things, and then she gets down to business ~~to defeat the Huns~~.]

I'm flexible. If there's a time that works for you, just let me know. I tend to keep myself busy, but I'll always get something done, so I don't mind shuffling things around.

Anytime works for me! I... Honestly need to keep busy. If I don't stay busy, then I'll get sad, and that realization that I'm alone here will hit, you know?

[It's gotten to her a few times, really, but she tries really hard not to think too much on it. A weak smile appearing on her face, despite her situation right now.]

If you're free at the end of the week, I'll be happy to meet you then!

[She gets that, too. In fact, it's a lot of the reason she's tried to keep herself from having too much free time. She still has time to think about the things that require her thought. Viscint. Her brother. Dohalim. The others. Law's situation with his father. The presence of Vholran, a man she really doesn't even know. It's a lot to take in, so she has to digest a little of it at a time.

It really is a big work in progress.]

I get it. I got lucky to arrive here with a bunch of people I know, but I know not everyone's had the same fortune. Let's meet up at the end of the week. Pick a place and we'll go. Lots of free space outside of the town. Natural obstacles and cover, too. Could be great for training.

[They'll just need to be wary of wild animals.]

[Honestly, she's a bit envious that Kisara's arrived with so many people. She wishes that she could have had that luck, but for now, she'll have to make due with what she has, and the people she's been meeting here haven't been bad at all! In fact, she could already start calling a few people 'friends'.]

The end of the week sounds good! I'll see you then, Kisara. Make sure you stay safe until we can meet up, then we can really get into trouble!

[Oh no. Someone save this fool.]

Sounds like a good plan to me! Let's save the getting into trouble for when we're together. Then if we really do get into any, I can get us out.

[Although Rin can probably manage that just on her own.]

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