Re: KEYLETH - DAY 4 [closed to Hunter & Vax]
Hunter was used to that momentary startle. He lived in it. Ok, ok, dramatic flair and whatever, but it always gave that extra second. That moment of pause, that gasp, that extra second to take in the situation. To come up with whatever snappy one liner. Whatever extra little thing to throw someone off guard.
Except this time, it just let him know he was in over his head. Yes, he was sheltered. Yes, shopping wasn't his thing. There were scouts and guards and other people do that that after all. But even so, the lay out of items, the look on the shopkeepers face.... This didn't read as just browsing... and the fact that this was moving out of his area expertise was slowly dawning on him. On his own, maybe he could keep people at bay and slide through their perception, but talking his way out of this... how much fear could he muster when the Emperor he was drawing on had no hold here...
He still had to try though...
His grip loosened, thumb rubbing against Keyleth's arm in a gesture of soothing that he'd picked up in his short time with the students of Hexside. "Oh, well, if that's the case have you seen the stall two down? It's wares are really..." He tried to smooth it over. He did. But looking down at the items laid out for Keyleth's inspection, he faltered, unsure exactly what she might be looking for. This wasn't like any transaction he oversaw back home. Obvious battle benefits and power boosts. This looked personal and... oh no... he... he didn't know how to read that when it wasn't threatening to get what he needed... "...uh... more... illustrious?"