Never Trust Appearances

[Fyra]

She felt giddy, butterflies in her stomach again as Kaleb wrapped his long arm around her to keep her protected from the crowd, steering her in the right directions to weave through it all. She felt his own body jolt with the impact of his thieving several times, but always, as she watched now, into rich people. In what seemed like mere moments, he pulled her up to a rooftop and they settled.

Her eyes cast about, filled with wonder at seeing the city from this place, where she was looking down upon people. She could see the mansions and large houses of those with more money to spend, and the whole of the shops, inns and other businesses of Central Marn. At Kaleb's voice, Fyra looked up at him, and followed his gaze to the direction it was staring at: a house that was quite well-to-do.

Leaning against him lightly, it was a little chilly, up in the area that was unprotected by wind, she asked him. "Why did you leave?"

[Kaleb Morrington]

Pulling her closer to him and wrapping the cloak he'd snagged, around them, he stared off towards the house, his expression sad and longing. "They were trying to make me something I didn't think I could be - a proper gentleman. Of course, they tried making me that way in all the wrong ways, but they couldn't help it. I was their only kid. They didn't know how to raise me, but they tried. Refused to get a nanny..." Kaleb shook his head.

"I thought about going back to them, once, decided against it. Best to think their son died rather than become a thief who can see ghosts."

[Fyra]

She looked up at him, unable to tear herself away from the intensity of the emotion that came from him. Fyra reached and interlaced her fingers with his in what she hoped was a comforting manner. A sad story. But she felt her own was sadder. He had run away, rejecting his parents, and then decided to live with his choice. She had been kicked out. His home had had its problems, but hers had been loving. She had always been able to run to her parents.

'And they never saw you in the streets or anything? I suppose now they wouldn't recognize you, but when you were younger?"

[Kaleb Morrington]

Her little fingers linked with his and automatically he began rubbing her hand with his thumb. "Nah, we had servants that went into town, and none of them were any good at finding a lad that didn't want to be found. Mum and Da couldn't come into town without being besieged by poor folk." He sighed and stood with a low grunt, pulling her up with him.

"No sense in day dreaming about the past though. How about some lunch? I've got enough bishani for someplace decent." He suggested, eyes glittering.

[Fyra]

The urge to ask him more about his past was stifled and set aside. She would get more of an idea just exactly what had gone on in his home as she learned more about him. At the mention of lunch, she sighed. "Oh... there's this particular place I used to love to eat at... I haven't been there since... well, too long. They have some of the most delicious dishes though.... She looked at him hopefully. "It's not even super expensive or such. But the cooks good." In her building excitement, Fyra forgot that it was also one of the places she might get recognized, despite that she no longer wore her hair past her shoulders, or that it was no longer brown.

Despite he weight loss and her differences, she looked nearly the same as she had before she had been bitten. Some of her friends would suspect.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Kaleb listened to her, watched her eyes brighten, and decided then and there that he'd try and get that shine into her eyes again and again, even if it meant stealing a crown off of a queens head. So, he grinned and told he to lead away.

He followed her through the crowd, enjoying his view, being sure to meet her eyes every time she looked back. He didn't bother pick-pocketing anyone this time, he had more than enough bishani to pay for the dinner. Nothing would bother her today, he decided to himself as he moved closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist, though continuing to allow her to lead.

They passed a jeweler's stall and vaguely Kaleb wondered what the emerald necklace he spotted would look like on Safyra... or perhaps sapphires. What if she didn't like sapphires or emeralds though? He resolved to find out.

He let her lead him into a little restaurant, followed her when she moved to order, his own order sliding from his mouth without too much thought. Paying for it once the woman told him the total, Kaleb moved away with Fyra after being assured their dinners would be served shortly. They sat nearby, and Kaleb took the time to sip on the drink he'd ordered while leveling his gaze on the woman in front of him.

"So," he asked casually, "what sort of gemstones do you prefer?"

[Fyra]

Safyra smiled happily as they sat, and leaned back in her chair a little, a cup of mulled cider in her hands, warming them. She glanced around at the bustling movement of the restaurant. It was still pretty popular, she guessed, but the cook was always on top of orders. She turned to look happily at Kaleb as he asked her a question, shifting to lean forward. Blinking at the question she tilted her head with curiosity. 'I've never really thought about it. Woodcarver's daughters don't really look around at jewelry much. Money enough but not much to spare." She hadn't realized that she'd just let slip another detail about her past.

Glancing over her shoulder, she felt as though somebody was watching her, and swiftly tried to shrug it off. "But I always liked sapphires. Blue was always one of my favorite colors." She sighed and took a sip of her wine.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Kaleb tilted his eyes, curious at the new information. Woodcutter's daughter eh? Emerald eyes glittered when she mentioned her favorite color. "Are you sure it's not green now?" He teased, sitting back slightly when their food was placed before them. He was just digging in when a young lad came up to Fyra, staring at her as though she were a ghost.

"Safyra? Is that you?" Kaleb looked up and between the two, interest piqued slightly, unimpressed when Amyrea took the chance to flit into existence. "Who's that?" Kaleb shrugged very slightly, signaling Amyrea he had no idea. Really... it would be really nice if he could just talk to them without talking... ghosts he means.

[Fyra]

Their food came, and Fyra set down the mulled wine in favor of the meal. She grinned at her escort. "I doubt that-" Her comment was cut off as she heard her name in an all to familiar voice. She hadn't even started to eat yet. Of course. You fool... people can see past a different hair color you know! She turned and slowly looked up at the young man who was staring at her, his face sheet white. Cinnamon hair was short cropped along his head, just long enough to fall across his forehead, underneath it, grey-blue eyes stared at her above a boyish face. She blinked, her muscles tense.

Swiftly, she looked down at her plate and mumbled. "M'sorry, mister. I don't know who you've got me mixed up with."

[Kaleb Morrington]

The boy was persistent, but Kaleb knew what she was doing. Changing his voice to an elegant, well bred one instead of his usual rough gutter-snipe one, Kaleb addressed his newest "wife". "Amelia, my love, who is this boy? And why on earth is he calling you Safyra?" Kaleb arched his eyebrow as he remembered his father doing.

"I do apologize sir but you do have the wrong woman. This is my darling Amelia, we were just wed not to long ago." Kaleb chortled in a good natured, well bred manner. "To think we met when she tried pick-pocketing me, such foolishness, but that is love, is it not?" Kaleb said, forgetting the boy by all appearances, to lean forward and clasp Fyra's hands, his eyes warm and loving. Inwardly he was working on how to tie all these strings up in a nice little bow.

Our clothes would suggest us taking a secret honey-moon, my voice talks of money - a lot - which means I'd have kept on the down low, hence the crap I'm wearing. My story suggests she was a street-rat, hence the accent and automatic looking away, and since she was so damn adamantly against stealing, I can assume her friends wouldn't suspect her of theft.

The boy was still scrutinizing Fyra so Kaleb played spoiled rich boy. "I know, she's quite ravishing looking, isn't she, though I must really protest how you seem to be undressing MY wife with YOUR eyes." Kaleb narrowed his eyes at the boy, his voice taking on a rich-yet-threatening persona. Really, he should pull this off more often with heists...

[Fyra]

Her eyes flashed up to look at Kaleb as his voice sounded in a smooth, well bred manner. Her hair, having fallen slightly into her face, his her expression of shock. With a swallow, she controlled herself and played along with the story he was presenting. It wasn't too hard, when he looked at her like he was. Her heart jumped and her lips lifted. All she had to do was bat her eyes and force a small giggle from her throat. Her fingers clasped his tightly, the outward sign of her fear. Please just go away, Derek. She tried to force memories of the young man from her mind as he stared at her and her "husband".

As Kaleb started to take offense, Derek shook his head, and looked over at the other man, his eyes scrutinizing him instead. "Sorry, sir. She just... looks like somebody I knew." It was apparent that Kaleb's accent of well bred money was making him back down a little. "Safyra... was the girl I loved. She just disappeared a while back... A friend of mine said he saw her recently, that her hair was different. Perhaps..." He swallowed and looked back at Fyra. "Sir, may I ask when you met... Amelia?" Derek was nervous, but obviously trying to hunt down his own strange hunch.

Safyra glanced over at Derek, and edge of panic starting to show in her eyes. Her nostrils flared as she held herself still, pleading entering her eyes from where Derek couldn't quite see.

[Kaleb Morrington]

Kaleb fought to not grasp at straws. Girl he loved and Fyra was trying to hide from him? She did mention her magic being a curse and her family abandoning her... memories like this... she likely just wanted to run from them. Knowing what that was like, Kaleb decided to help.

"She has that face, aye." Kaleb chuckled as he fought to think and think hard while keeping his face neutral, well bred. "Amelia and I met about 3 years ago, and I swear by Theogios that it was love at first theft-attempt." Kaleb chortled before allowing himself to sink into her eyes, his false story just pouring from his mouth, his voice just adding to the effect. "She kept sneaking in, taking little things, leaving little hints. She'd never admitted it, but when I caught her one night." His eyes darkened, in his mind from a different memory, conjured to create this effect, though seemingly from another, more romantic one.

"I let her go, of course... but she came back, and we worked together from there." He smiled at her, lovingly.

[Fyra]

She managed a giggle at the story that Kaleb told, his face filled with a look that said that he was lost in her gaze. Her voice was quiet as she spoke. "Oh stop that, love. You got ev'r'thing I ever took back." She forced a smile and rolled her eyes at him.

Derek's face fell. He showed polite interest at the story and then stepped back, eyes lingering for a moment longer on Safyra. His voice was polite as he spoke. "I'm sorry, sir, miss, for disturbing your meal. Please forgive me." He stepped back and disappeared through the crowd, looking strangely confused and sober.

As he left, she let out a sigh of relief, her muscles shaking as she felt some of the tension leave. She didn't move to let go of his hands, and she let her head drop a little before raising her eyes to his and managing a weak smile. "Theogios... I forgot that I used to frequent here... and somebody recognized me last night when I went after you..." She spoke only just loud enough for him to hear. "Thank you..."

[Kaleb Morrington]

Kaleb watched to boy leave, feeling sorry for hurting him, but Kaleb was feeling rather overprotective of Fyra. "It's alright love." His rich accent was hard to lose he noted and decided it wasn't worth the effort to lose it at that moment. He pulled their joined hands up to his lips so he could kiss her knuckles, almost reverently.

"Let's finish this amazing meal and go for a walk along the Ofriyu, sound good love?" With that he winked and started eating, keeping one hand linked with Fyra's as he enjoyed the meal.

[Fyra]

She smiled slightly. May as well continue playing the couple in love... perhaps it will keep others from approaching. And it was quite easy to fall into that roll as well. His lips on her knuckles made color rise into her pale cheeks, and as he kept ahold of one of her hands, she twined her fingers among his, finding her appetite once again and beginning to eat.

The meal was as delicious as she remembered it to be, and the mulled wine a bit stronger. By the time the meal was delicious, and since one of the barmaids had smiled at her and refilled the cup with more almost anytime she passed, Fyra was feeling pleasantly tingly, and very warm. Her eyes were half-closed, looking over at Kaleb. Could just lost myself in those eyes... She smiled, quite relaxed at this point. It wasn't long though before they left the building and went for their walk. She found herself reluctant to let go of his fingers. But the chill air was refreshing against her wine-warmed body. Her full stomach made her feel pleasantly drowsy.

And everything seemed to be just very perfect in her mind. She leaned into Kaleb a little as they walked.