[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

Euphemia hauled a deep sigh, not sure what she had been expecting from him, but disappointed all the same. Maybe his own moniker was something embarrassing on un-masculine, or perhaps it harbored memories or trauma, and that was why he did not reveal himself to her. Euphemia was not disappointed because sadness or hesitation existed, but because she desired to know those parts of him. In the length of this interaction, the maiden had managed to become exceedingly curious (and worried) about him, and naturally, wanted to know more about what made him the way he was – including facts such as, and including, his name.

and several other things there-after.

Truthfully, Euphemia was not frightened by darkness. She lived and thrived in the darkness; which some might find surprising, given her small stature and youthful vigor. Still, she had oft experienced grievous loss and the vicissitudes of her heart in even mundane things left her sometimes despondent – unsure what was right or real. She understood this as an innate part of herself, and she saw that within him, and whatever their life experiences, one thing would always be true;

that misery loved company.

If he passed her a glance, Euphemia did not notice. She looked forward, nose pointing in the direction they were heading. You to are willing to speak to anyone you meet, it seems. she commented simply, wondering if that was as obvious to him as it was to her. For what it was worth, Euphemia was rather good at readying body language and he had the miasma of a sullen street cat. Angry at the world, but not exactly pushing it away either.

Euphemia decided to explain further. You could have demanded me to leave. Could have run me off. Not that she ever wanted to push someone to such an extent with her presence, but she believed in his autonomy. If he wanted to, he would have. Suddenly, Euphemia stopped in her tracks, and finally looked his way.

But there is no need. Here you go.

Off in the yonder distance, there was the beginning of a large cresting hill, and at the base of it – a crevasse that was large enough to fit a wolf or two. Its best feature, Euphemia knew, was that the way the earth and rocks had eroded made it so there was a perfectly viable alternative exit, if one needed. It was her favorite place to find respite when she decided to take a reprieve from Dawnbreak, but did not want to sally too far off. The maiden hadn't intended to leave him here and share one of her private abodes to the world, but here it was when she needed it, as it always was.

Unintentionally, Euphemia cocked her head as she looked at him and wondered what he would do next. Would he bid her adieu in some gruff manner, or perhaps give some snarky remark in that weird way of his; the one that was silently begging not to be left alone.

---